I have the distinct pleasure of having been born in the late ’70s, putting me right at the cusp of Gen X and Gen Y. Like many Xers, I was a Latchkey Kid. I remember the Cold War, Oliver North, Just Say No, the doomed Challenger shuttle, the Electric Company, Thundercats, jellies, Chef Boyardee and Pong.
There were no cell phones, Internet, texting, Myspace, Facebook, iPhone, iPod, iBook or Kindle, which was fine – the velcro on my Reeboks was mesmerizing and distracting enough. It wasn’t until my mid to late 20’s that my inner Gen Y’er began to embrace these technologies, which for better or worse slipped seamlessly into my daily routine.
For better, I happened upon a site called Inspire.com, just one of many social networks providing support to people living with serious illness and their loved ones. According to the New York Times, these online communities are blooming like wildflowers – and for good reason. These sites offer something of an instant community of kindred souls who share common challenges, hopes and fears. And for those who are home or hospital bound due to their illness, social networking may be one of only a handful of outlets to connect and have a voice.
Of course, it’s not all peachy. Hopelessness can be contagious, and a predominately hopeless, negative community is bound to bring the spirit down. And as with the “real” world, there are likely a smattering of abusive, unsupportive or predatory individuals lurking in the Internet ether.
But all in all, this Kindness 2.0 thing is kinda cool.
Incidentally, I posted something to the Stop Sarcoidosis group at Inspire.com, and have found the community there to be incredibly kind, realistic and supportive. As one “sarkie” wrote, “Keep your chin up and don’t despair. We’ll help you through this!”
I created this blog a couple of years ago during one of many epiphanies gone by the wayside. At the time, I was caught in the high of being a spiritual seeker. I voraciously consumed books, blogs, books, documentaries, books, podcasts, books. Anything to stuff the intellect to the gills, to quell the mental cravings and preoccupations that something out there could cut through the incessant jabberings of my inner Woody Allen.
Every so often I practiced some of what I read. The consummate sprinter, my spiritual practice took the form of short, sporatic bursts of intense focus followed by long periods of…what? Not that my intellect ever ceased. If there was ever a long-distance runner or 800 page novel, it’s Intellect. Flow on the other hand, that’s my sprinter, my collection of short stories.
When my partner was diagnosed last year with a serious illness, it was as if I were suddenly the sole competitor in a Track and Field meet. My sprinter and long-distance runner, my relay team, my hurdler, high jumper, shot-putter and discus thrower were at once amped and numbed to life. I fluctuated wildly between Intellect and Flow, denial and deep connection, hope and dismay.
Lately, I’ve noticed the encroachment of resignation, of “Oh, this is his/my/our lot in life.” The idea of destiny and fate interspersed with magical thinking and metaphysical jargon. Did I will this? Did I attract this? Shit, I’m thinking a negative thought! Shit I’m creating negativity! Shit, I”m not being a good support person! Shit, stop being so self-absorbed! Shit, stop thinking so negatively! Shut the hell up, inner Woody Allen! Shit, shit, SHIT!
I’m not the one who is sick. I’m not the one who directly feels the fibrosis, the terror of crippled breath or the chop salad of pain. I’m not a caregiver in the most literal sense, as my partner is able to care for himself.
Still, this is a profound experience. Perhaps other partners, siblings, children and parents of people struggling with serious illness can relate.
So profound that whether or not I consider this an instance of worldly fate, it’s undeniably spiritual. I’m not busy being a spiritual seeker. I’m simply living this experience. This long-distance experience with room for sprints and rest.
It’s What Is right now. What Is is a mirror with infinite reflections. If we’re alert, we catch slivers of our reflection. These slivers form constellations. We look to them to glean insight about our place in the Cosmos, our lot in life and the impermanence of it all.
What Is is a master teacher.
Lucid Amphibology 