"No man is an island, entire of itself.
"We have all heard John Donne's words quoted, probably numerous times.
It fits nicely with the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child.
"Whether you want the assistance of the village in raising your child or not, their aid is ineluctable.
The village will impact the development of your child.
People are connected and our actions, attitudes, and words influence those around us.
It is unlikely, if not impossible, that one could live in isolation from all influence of other humans.
Please, please, though, put some effort into being an island.
Endeavor to manage some containment and to attain some sense of boundaries.
Grasp your individuality and protect it from the dilution of the waters around you.
Too many of us are dissolved islands, nebulously merged with the sands of each others' islands, swirling in meaningless eddies of muck.
It is unclear where one ends and another begins, what belongs to one and what does not.
The feelings of one recklessly spew into the seething mass and agitate the affect of others.
Nothing is held back; nothing is considered private or personal.
Everyone must be made partner to one's slightest emotional sensation.
Others are obliged to be participants, to be voyeurs of the desires and despairs of those around them.
Intimacy has come to mean the sharing openly with everyone to include strangers.
It is the willingness to bare oneself.
The waters, though, are incommodious and unable to withstand further disintegration of islands.
The beautiful islands that once were inviting and peaceful are rare and contaminated by the adulterated waters that clamor against and erode their shores.
With no solid ground amidst the murk, the horizon is bleak; there is no shore upon which to rest.
There is no refuge unless we cultivate the skills of separation, establish firm boundaries, foster true intimacy, and embrace the personal.
Once our islands are restored, the waters will be clear and we can freely travel and visit one another, but we must preserve our private spaces, spaces for meditation, relaxation, and regeneration.