Anyhow, the book has got me thinking on various matters, both personal and professional… I thought I’d add a bit of pre-amble to the following conjecture…

It is possible to view relationships in a non-linear manner. For example, friendships can be viewed to begin and end upon two distinct thresholds. However, this doesn’t have to be so. Even if a friendship is ended, that person can simply become a friend that is no longer in contact.

Some would view this as a form self-denial. But for me, it’s a form of disillusionment, a statement of immediate indifference, with underlying understanding and perhaps enshrinement of what the friendship held at its peak. This path, which treats all relationships as circles, means that any friendship can be re-visited, without any explanation or false apology.

In many senses, it’s claiming ownership of your portion of a friendship. Because, even though the friendship involved multiple actors, none could possibly have experienced it from your perspective, you own that perspective. Acknowledging and agreeing to your perspective, is ownership, and responsibility.

This little man thinks you’re very funny. You must be pulling an incredibly strange face to get this response from Austin! Yes, this is Austin at about eight weeks old, smiling his way through life, and giggling his way through sleep. :)

Tags: austin, smile, photograph