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Lonely

I've been feeling the weight of loneliness a lot lately and doing my best to befriend it rather than resist or harden or numb. How? Good question. I've tried many things but the thing that is working best is to focus my gaze on this moment and this one and this, knowing I have all I need to meet this ever changing instant.
Here's what I mean:
Today was hot. I went to the gym and after my workout I stepped out of the air-conditioned rooms and into an eighty degree day. It took my breath away. I stood still, transfixed by an overwhelming sensation of warm air caressing cool skin. I closed my eyes to inhale the last days of summer like an embrace so sweet and complete it left no room for lonely. Of course the feeling didn't last forever. Feelings never do. But it did last long enough for me to feel held.
And that was enough.
I know many of you are also feeling the shadow of loneliness after a pandemic year, a social shut down, a continual influx of fractious news and the obvious implications of climate change. You are not alone. For a moment today I felt loved (I have no better word) by the tender fluctuations of warm air, bird song and breeze. I wish the same for each of you.
May you feel loved. Wherever you are, I am pressing your hand, perhaps you'll feel it in the air.

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