Eve of Tuesday 2011 (Transitions)

This post is now firmly an annual affair. However, the writing this year has been more challenging as there are a number of posts I have started in the past three weeks, but none have made it to completion. Thus, this post, somewhat unsuccessfully, bears the weight of those, while trying to stay true to the Labour Day theme established in previous years (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010). The result is the following.

The Tuesday is nearly upon us and transition is in our thoughts and actions. Each Eve of Tuesday post in years past has made some reference to transition (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), but this year the concept seems to be a particular focus. As you approach tomorrow’s renewal you likely have some thoughts and feelings of transition as well. The academic year, and sport seasons that so many of us follow, reach a point of change on this date or in the approaching weeks. As usual, it is important to take stock of where we have been. I know that so many of you have been on adventures again this summer. Some have left for new homes. Some welcomed new family members. Some went abroad. Some of you volunteered. Some of you set goals around health and fitness. Some of you spent quality time with family and loved ones. Some of you went into the outdoors. Many of us took risks, and experienced new adventures. Congratulations! I am so fortunate to know so many extraordinary people who strike out and engage in adventures and renewal! We shall carry our summer with us into the coming transitions. This includes carrying its victories, defeats, experiences of growth, celebrations, and trials. New jobs, new challenges, new schools, new teams, new relationships, fresh starts – all of these we will face with greater courage because of our summer, the past twelve months, and all the preceding years that have brought us to this point. We face times of transition not with mysterious strength, or merely depending on luck to steer us through unchartered experiences. Instead, we enter with the strength we have built through our past experiences, relationships, and previous transitions.

Perhaps one of the important factors of transition we are getting at here is growth. It is a topic that has been on my mind quite a lot lately. I was fortunate to go on an adventure this summer that allowed me to experience a completely new type of interconnected growth. In working with teaching colleagues from Canada and Kenya to further professional development, I experienced personal, social, emotional and professional growth. At the same time I witnessed, and was a part of other people’s growth in all of these areas, as well as the growth of community. However, I believe the effectiveness of this growth would not be fully realized if I was not able to capitalize on some transition time between that adventure, and beginning a new adventure tomorrow. The reflections, conversations, recuperation, and questions of that transition time have allowed the growth to fully set in. Now, as I transition into tackling the challenges and adventures of the next few weeks and coming year I know that I will call upon the new resources that this growth has provided. (The complete analysis of how growth and transition are interconnected is best left to another time otherwise this Labour Day post would turn into chapters).

For now, let us look towards tomorrow, the coming weeks, the twelve months ahead, and the excitement, nervousness and challenges that we are all no doubt faced with on some level. As usual, the foremost reminder is to be willing to turn to those around you for help. Times of transition are better managed with support. Further than this though, is recognizing what type of support you can give yourself. A few minutes ago I read an email from a travel mate – one who was an integral aspect of some much needed transition time I spent in London a couple of weeks ago. With the Tuesday and all the busy times of the autumn looming, a line in his email clearly reminded me to ask myself “What do I need?” It’s a question we should all be asking ourselves when we face transition, adventure, and challenges. It is not selfish to make sure we take care of ourselves. Often we remind each other “take care of yourself” “watch out for yourself”, but often we do not heed our very own advice – as more than one of you have reminded me recently. Transitions can be a costly event, but if we do not pay the price in taking care of ourselves during the time of transition – emotionally, physically, socially and mentally – then we will pay the price later in exhaustion, stress, or disorganization. The result will be an inability to be at our best, either for ourselves, or those we care about. In other words, at the time of transition, at the time of change, is when one should take the most care to ensure optimal health, and optimal growth.

Have a wonderful Tuesday. Take care of yourself and each other. I look forward to hearing about your coming adventures and experiences – please keep me up to date. I am excited about this year. While it may be sounding cliché, the words are true: we will accomplish a lot this year, together.

As has become the custom, some music will conclude our Labour Day post. Two songs this year. The first, a classic, speaks of courage, as that’s what we need sometimes to take care of ourselves. (The video also, begrudgingly subtly recognizes the Cup champs). Then, even with the holiday ending for many that read here, the second song reminds us to have fun!! (Come’on youz gotz to smile at playing with baby animals, regardless of the safety factor). After all that blah blah blah above, it’s a good take home message for tomorrow and beyond: have fun!

The Tragically Hip and Wezzer take us out then…

Peace and love – a bientôt,
IR

Callin’ It A ‘Cade

Apparently we are going to turn the lights out on a decade tonight. As you may know I personally find September to serve as a more appropriate annual turn-over point, but everybody loves the neatness of numbers and lists, so at the end of 2009, at the end of a decade we’ll do a quick reflection – certainly not conclusive or complete.

A few nights ago it was posed to a group I was with: what single world event had the most impact on my personal life in the past decade? It remains 9/11. Foremost was the emotional impact that reverberated through the world; a host of different emotions filled the world, and no sentient person could have avoided being impacted in some way. Then the repercussions for many personal lives that were not actually directly involved in the event. Every time I, or anyone else I know travels, their experiences have been altered by that event. A nouveau lexicon that everyone uses emerged in both political and popular culture as a result. Canada has made the choice in this decade to spend billions of dollars in Afghanistan. This post is not to make a decision on the rights or wrongs of that decision, just to recognize that those billions in turn effected domestic decisions that in turn effected every Canadian’s personal life, including mine. Much more importantly, with four new deaths today, and one journalist also being killed, on the very last day of this decade, 138 Canadian soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan in the 2000′s, thus bringing back a more personal nature of veterans and Remembrance Day. All of these factors, and many more came as a result of 9/11.

Time magazine recently called this first decade of the 21st Century to be a complete downer in comparison to the last of the 20th. While there were certainly a host of world events, and many notable U.S. events that led them to make that call, I don’t share the same pessimistic view overall. Although there is credence for some sober reflection when climate change, war, poverty, disease, and the economy is considered, I look back and see a lot of positive events in the past decade, and look forward with hope, as does the same article.

There are some great organizations doing some amazing things to fight what I believe to be one of our most important global battles: overcoming poverty. Kiva, Oxfam, Make Poverty History, and so many more have really grown in this past decade. I believe that most of us have become more worldly, and environmentally aware in the last 10 years and that is a good thing. The advances we have made in health care, and the support and awareness for causes like AIDS, prostate cancer and breast cancer have grown in leaps and bounds. The progression in Education, particularly educational tools and technology has been incredible. The list of positive highlights and changes could go on depending on your penchant for popular culture, sports, politics, literature, music, or any area.

While each of us personally dealt with sadness and there were those who left us in the past decade, it was also one filled with births, and with partners confirming their love. I smile when I think of some personal events of the preceding ten years, and many of them are just simple, yet joyful events, spent with family and friends that I care about. I hope that you can look back and smile as well.

In the next ten years we’re going to face some challenges, some of which are unpredictable at this point. While we’ve made progress in the areas I mentioned above, there is still a long, long way to go in each of these and with many other causes. Whether they be global, local, or personal, please remember that you are not in this alone so long as you strengthen the ties of your relationships. We’ll have hope and joy in the next 10 years if we work on our peace and love. I know that those four words seem airy fairy to some of you, but maybe you just haven’t thought deeply about what those words actually mean, for they are not just words, there are meanings, signs, and tools within each of them. It is up to you and those closest to you to get into those meanings, signs and tools for yourself though. Be open to those around you when they need you, and be ready to turn for help when you need it.

Finally, I think back on the past decade and I am bombarded with images and amazing deeds of the awesome people I call family and friends. I must be the most fortunate person alive to know so many incredible people that have done so many incredible things in the past 10 years – personal and worldly – in the areas of family, community-building, social-work, health-care, education, journalism, literature, writing, photography, music, film, politics, sport, travel, and charity. The list could go on, for I am actually beyond fortunate to know amazing people in so many areas, and that they make the choice to include me in their incredible lives. It actually makes my head hurt just a little bit to think about what so many of you have accomplished. Keep it going!

We’ll let the Kings of Leon, and then David Gray take us out then. With KoL we recognize how uber successful one can become, even in a relatively short period of time, and it’s a bit of a tune about sticking together. Then with Gray we have a tune that might seem like a downer, but it’s actually about hope and going forwards. It’s also one of my all time fav’s.

“Through the windows of midnight, all moanfoam and silver.”

Take care, take care of each other…. Bonne Année!!

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving just might be my favourite holiday. This statement has been met with a few quizzical looks lately, but I am prepared to back it up. It is a celebration that combines tradition and flexibility. Friends and family gather or connect without the stress of gift giving or pressure of other holidays. It is of a secular nature, but can be recognized as important for any number of faiths. Most of all, it emphasizes something that is explicitly simple, yet overwhelmingly important: reflection on and expression of thanks. In other words, it has a sublime balance to it.

While it is important to be grateful throughout the year, this weekend’s holiday helps us draw attention to those things we are thankful for. Relationships, particularly family and friends, are consistently first on my list of things I am thankful for. Last year’s Thanksgiving post was focused on relationships, and a year later I am even more appreciative and fortunate to have people in my life that make me a better person. However, on this Thanksgiving I want to note that I am thankful for my health and physical condition. We often say we are glad to have good health, and wish good health on those we care about, but I find recently that I am rather humbled and extremely grateful to do so much that I probably take for granted. Without being healthy I would not have been able to visit so many of the places I have been to in this word. I would not have been able to engage in so many of the activities that bring me joy. Many of the relationships in my life are fostered by activities that would be impossible if I was not healthy. Finally, my day to day existence is completely easy due to my state of fitness. In short, I am extremely fortunate, and as a result, extremely thankful.

From this extends thanks to specific people. I am thankful to my parents who instilled within me a priority for health and fitness. I am thankful to my friends and family who inquire after my health and encourage me to take care of myself (yes, even though I am stubborn). I am thankful to those friends who I go on outdoor physical adventures with as they place safety and health above accomplishments, records, and summits.

On a specific note, I am thankful for everything I have been, and will be involved in this weekend: spending time with a number of close friends I care about, listening to live music, laughing with friends and family, being active outdoors with awesome people I care about, spending time with family, spending time with little buddies I care about, playing hockey, perhaps watching some film, enjoying a fantastic meal, and having the time to reflect and be thankful. What a great Thanksgiving, filled with so many things that bring me joy, and it’s mainly due to some of you who are reading. I don’t think I could ask for a better one.

I hope you get to spend time with people you care about this weekend.

Merci – Thank you – Happy Thanksgiving!
IR

Eve of Tuesday 2009

Sneaking Home

Originally uploaded by irober.

We’ve been favoured with seven days of September prior to Labour Day this year, yet here it is once again: The Eve of Tuesday. For many of us we sit at the cusp of beginnings, changes, and adventures at this time of year. As a result, and as I’ve mentioned before (and before), it seems a natural, and pertinent, time for a little reflection. Maybe not too much mind you, but just a little. We’ve pulled off a lot these past twelve months, and it’s interesting to think that many of the adventures of the preceding 52 weeks were set in motion, at least in some small way, during the days following Labour Day. Travel, relationships, sports, employment, school, and other adventures were all set-in motion a year ago. If you think back, can you recall any that made your past year special, challenging, or meaningful?

This type of post has become a bit of a repetitive annual affair, but some things deserve emphasis, especially as many of us have faced recent adventures and challenges. As the summer closes out, we look back upon the season that is often filled with play, travel, and other adventures. Others look back on goals completed, or milestones reached in the past season, and the past year. The start of September, the change of the season, allows us to realize just how much we have accomplished recently – most of it with each other. It’s also exciting to think that in the next few days and weeks the seeds will likely be planted for the adventures to come, or the near future will provide the setting, people, or tools to allow recently started adventures to come to fruition. As I sneak back into town, on the brink of The Tuesday, I find this long weekend has served as a reminder that it is our relationships that will be our most powerful ally – even if some are our greatest challenges – in the year to come after Labour Day.

As I sit and see today’s sun fade across the water and into the west, I smile when I think of what we will accomplish in these days after Labour Day – the new adventures to come, and so many of them still unknown. I am fortunate and thankful to have amazing friends that will be there in the adventures and challenges. Thus, the usual call goes out at this time of year. Be ready to help those who are lost in their challenges of the next 12 months. Yet, also be ready to turn to friends when you are lost or challenged – it will come, and not always in the form expected. However, that’s exciting, and if we didn’t open the door to the excitement of success and setbacks, then joy wouldn’t be able to come in. Be ready, be open, be friendly, and be a friend to your friends.

I might not be around these interweb parts so much this coming season, so two things. (1) Go to a Terry Fox run on Sunday. (2) I’ll wish you all the best now, and suggest that I might return with more regularity at some point. I’ll never be too far though, and for those of you who know where to reach me, please never hesitate to drop a line or give a ring. We’ll see you soon no doubt.

I’ll let the White Stripes take us into this next yearly cycle. A song filled with hope, smiles, friendship and a bit of the unknown – key characteristics for a successful run at the adventures that are ahead for us this time of year.

Take care,
Peace and love – a bientôt,
IR

Third Anniversary – Friendship

“Friendship, like the immortality of the soul, is too good to be believed. When friendships are real, they are not glass threads or frost work, but the solidest things we know.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

A couple of days ago the third anniversary of Être ou Avoir came and left without any fanfare, let alone any postings. This does not mean however that I forgot that it has been three years since we went live at irober.wordpress.com. Rather, I knew I would get around to posting, and instead have been enjoying some time tieing up some loose ends, and then taking some time with friends, rather than jump on to my computer.

Now that I’m hear and reflect briefly on the past year of both blogging, and the past year in general, I find that friendship has been more prevalent in my thoughts and in my postings. This is certainly not to say that I have all of a sudden seen value in friends. Far from it in fact. For years now I have put a high value on the relationship with my friends (including my family). Regardless of time and space, the relationships I attempt to build with close friends involve trust, care, patience, intentionality and love. While some might see these as being the qualities of a partner relationship, it became clear a few years ago that nothing less should be expected from a close friendship. Values, hopes, challenges, and balance – perhaps the defining characteristics of us all – can all be defined, supported, and achieved with friends of this nature.

The values, hopes, challenges and balance woven into this past year have meant a little less blogging from me. However, they have also resulted in a deepening of my close friendships. Quite frankly, I would not have wanted it any other way. At the outset of this blog I made clear that it is important to be off engaged in other things, especially adventure, instead of typing on a computer. In this past year I feel I have. Further, friends have garnered a great deal more influence in this space on the internet in the past year, with suggestions, feedback, questions, sharing, and conversations. Quite frankly, what would I do without them?

In relation to the theme: I have always tended to lean towards the side of being a friend, rather than having friend. Yet, with personal milestones this past year, overcoming challenges, and the deepening of friendships in all areas of my life – work, play, family, social – I see value in both the being and the having. That being said, the act of being, or existing in friendship, is still one of the finest things in life.

Rather than continue to babble on, about either a third year of blogging finished, or friendship, perhaps a couple of quotes that balance each other off would be more appropriate.

The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention… A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words. – Rachel Naomi Remen

A friend is one before whom I may think aloud. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

As you know, I’m a fan of saying what you mean yourself, but I still get roped into a quote every now and then. I do not fret about this. It will likely continue to happen in the fourth year of this blog. C’est la vie. I look forward to the adventures, and postings of the next year. More than those, I look forward to the continued, and perhaps even new, friendships of the next year, and look back with wonderment, and gratitude.

Thank you. A bientôt.

The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow on him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this? - Henery David Thoreau

Happy Thanksgiving

This weekend figures more in my mind each passing year. If I think carefully I don’t know where to start though. Where do you begin to express gratitude when you are healthy, the people you care about are healthy, you have a roof over your head, and you don’t go hungry? Searching thoughtfully for the focus of my appreciation shuffles me back and forth, yet there is one constant in my considerations: relationships. There is so much that I can, and should be thankful for, and relationships are intertwined or foundational throughout.

Earlier this year, due to a bit of personal significance, I asked friends to tell me about adventures and challenges they were taking on. I wanted to be able to support them. I have done alright with some, and can continue to do better with others. The point of connecting it here; I am thankful to know so many amazing, caring, determined, and intentional people. I should tell them more often that I appreciate who they are. In some way they all make me a better person. I know every now and then a few of them read here, one of them might be you, and you deserve a Thanksgiving post inclusive of you. So, from a person who is thankful of many relationships…

I am thankful to be a member of a family that strives to put each other first.
I am thankful to be a member of a family that strives to move forward with care and is incredibly supportive.
I am thankful to be friends with people who share and include me in their growth.
I am thankful to be friends with people who share and include me in their children’s growth.
I am thankful to be friends with people who care.
I am thankful to be friends with people who listen, are honest, and are supportive.
I am thankful to be friends with people spread over the world, but make it a point to stay connected and nourish our friendship.
I am thankful to be colleagues with people who care, help others before themselves, and are dedicated to the most noble of causes. (I am thankful to be colleagues with people I call friends).
I am thankful to be teammates with people who play sports for friendship and growth.
I am thankful for the many relationships I have each Monday to Friday that make me laugh, humble me, inspire me, make me feel purposeful, and give me hope & joy.

I am thankful for the so very many relationships in my life that bring me hope, joy and love. You know if you are one – and you deserve the thanks.

I started writing the above list by saying “I am thankful to have…”. Considering the conundrum at the heart of this blog, I decided to go with to be instead. At another time, this wording could be worth an entry.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you are able to spend it with people you care about, and are thankful for. At the least, I hope you are able to connect with those you care about and those who care about you.

p.s. – secondary pages, from the About page to Currently… to Doc Quest have all received small updates.

I guess I should also say: Thanks for reading.

Merci

Strength

This definition is pulled from Answers.com:

noun.

1. The state, property, or quality of being strong.
2. The power to resist attack; impregnability.
3. The power to resist strain or stress; durability.
4. The ability to maintain a moral or intellectual position firmly.
5. Capacity or potential for effective action: a show of strength.
6. 1. The number of people constituting a normal or ideal organization: The police force has been at half strength since the budget cuts.
   2. Military capability in terms of personnel and materiel: an army of fearsome strength.
7. 1. A source of power or force.
   2. One that is regarded as the embodiment of protective or supportive power; a support or mainstay.
   3. An attribute or quality of particular worth or utility; an asset.
8. Degree of intensity, force, effectiveness, or potency in terms of a particular property, as:
   1. Degree of concentration, distillation, or saturation; potency.
   2. Operative effectiveness or potency.
   3. Intensity, as of sound or light.
   4. Intensity or vehemence, as of emotion or language.
9. Effective or binding force; efficacy: the strength of an argument.
10. Firmness of or a continuous rising tendency in prices, as on the stock market.
11. Games. Power derived from the value of playing cards held.

That’s a lot of language for what seems like a simple word. I still do not feel like it sums up the commendation that can be extended to friends and family. Strength comes in so many different forms, various ways that are only partly captured in the definitions above. Each of us has a strength that differs from the next. Together, when these strengths work in unison, and complement each other people can take on the world. There are some incredibly strong people out there, and I am fortunate to know so many of them. We are stronger than we know, you are stronger than you know, because we are not alone when we have family and friends.

Strength and character are always around us. Character: after all the words above it seems like that one is missing. Strength of character brings hope and possibility? Just throwing that one out there, as always thoughts are welcome.

Friendship Quote

I have been thinking a lot about friendship recently. Actually, it’s a topic I’ve felt as important for some time – as you can no doubt tell from the fact it is one of the secondary topic areas I blog under. I often ponder writing an extended piece for the blog, or even a series of pieces on the theme, or on sub-themes within friendship. In time, no doubt I will. For now, I came across this quote buried away, and it seemed to sum up some of my recent thoughts – although certainly not all of them.

There is one thing better than making a new friend, and that is keeping an old one.
-Elmer G. Letterman

Interestingly, Letterman was a big-time insurance broker and best-selling author on books regarding business. His comment sums up the balance I have noticed in recently. There is much to be gained from extending kindness and respect to new people, and acquiring new friends. It’s certainly not something that should be abandoned. However, it is sometimes too easy for us to neglect kindness, respect, being supportive and having an impact in our old friends’ lives. The wonderful thing is, that it often takes only simple things to keep up old friendships. Big things can come from these simple things, if we keep up the simple things.

Gift of New Friends

Being the first in a series of every day posts to mark Être ou Avoir’s first year.

The topic of friendship in current times has previously received a brief introduction on this blog. An event on Friday night created a new point of discussion within this topic. I was brought to a birthday party as a gift. A friend of a colleague was having a 30th birthday party, and he asked all the invitees to bring a specific gift. He insisted that they not get junk he would never use, no knick-knacks that might be good for a laugh and nothing more, no meaningless consumer products. Instead, he asked people to bring him a new shiny new friend.

When I was first approached about being a gift at a birthday party I had some of the initial reservations that might materialize in anyone’s mind. However, once I was assured there was no physical or intimate sacrifice required I was quite intrigued by the concept. While the current trend appears to be adding more facebook friends, myspace connections, or search for the next relationship with the computer as a mediator, this birthday celebration was about adding friends in person. Even though I had never heard of this concept before, it seemed refreshingly balanced and made great sense. We learn more about ourselves when we take on real life interactions, meet new people and try to present ourselves as who we really are in real time, who we really want to be, and without the constant editing, manufacturing, and glossing over that is online profiles. I think it is safe to say that from a domestic social standpoint – thus, excluding any of my adventures abroad, and the times I have started at a new school or job – I have not met more new people in a single night than I did on Friday. It was a lesson in myself I had not had in a while. With no prejudgments and given a blank canvas on which to present one’s self, it is amazing how one can struggle between being the person who is comfortable, and being the person one wants to be. Happily, for me at least, I was not concerned with what I have (avoir) or what I do. Gladly, I was not forced to speak about what I “do” too often, as the group of people were interesting enough, and respectful enough to not linger on traditional topics of first-time conversation. Also, trying to avoid hypocrisy, I also made sure to never ask others what they “do”. Thus, when asked if Friday night was more about Être or was it more about Avoir, I can say with a smile that it was almost all about being. I smile because when meeting people for the first time I firmly believe there should be little in the way of having, and the focus should be on being.

It remains to be seen if Friday was a one-time connection with a host of people, or whether longer lasting connections will arise. Subtle feelings of a sports team try-out no doubt linger when one is presented as a shiny new friend. Yet, I can say with confidence, it was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed and encourage more people to try on some level. In fact, I hope to give it a try one day as the gift receiver.

Thanks to AS for taking me as the gift, and thanks to R for having the birthday. Kudos to both, and everyone there, for being involved in an event structured around creating an environment of inclusion and avoiding prejudgment: good stuff!

Let’s also call this the second installment on ramblings regarding balanced friendship as I try to arrange my thoughts and write a piece on the topic that isn’t complete drivel.

Questions about Myfacespacesterbook

We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.” – C.S. Lewis

The topic at hand is in no way late-breaking. Rather, it feels like the time to comment here has come. Social networking sites have been a common conversational topic recently. The dialog will often begin with “You’ll never believe who I’m friends with on <insert name of site here> now!” My somewhat facetious response is “How is that meaningful friendship working out for you? Have you reached a social understanding of how you will treat each other?” While laughter usually ensues, one may also be left to internally ponder whether the definition of friendship has been picked clean.

The “networking” aspect of social-networking seems easy enough to understand. It is through causal connections that many people find jobs, seek out goods and services, pursue hobbies and activities that aid balance, share milestones, and generally get a glimpse of the wider community. There is much to be said for building a sense of community and having social networking sites play a part in the construction. However, I cringe when I see them being used as the corner stones; it just doesn’t seem like strong community building. Questions arise. Are social networking sites actually building meaningful communities and relationships, or are they acting as barriers? Can the foundation of a relationship or a community rest in postings to another person’s message board like graffiti on the wall for the whole world to read? Is positive intimacy fostered by tagging photos in someone else’s album? Do we create relationships of understanding by clicking on our 92nd friend?

In all likelihood the bias in these questions is quickly noticed. However, even with bias acknowledged, my mind is not set on the matter. There are many factors to consider: modern society lends itself to a global community, with friends all over the world; there are many we may be in common with but few ways to connect with them; the speed and pressure of our society requires creative outlets for forging and solidifying relationships. Mix in these factors, and many more, and the questions are no longer black and white. The grey answers, and a final opinion are certainly not forthcoming at this point. Rather, I’m throwing the questions out here to stoke the conversation a bit and see where it goes. (Hopefully it continues in person with some of you – there’s that bias again). Then, perhaps in a while, a more conclusive judgment of myfacespacesterbooks can be made. So, to keep things rolling: what comes first, the friend or the communication, the community or the network? We’ll leave with these thoughts for now…

“Friendship, like the immortality of the soul, is too good to be believed. When friendships are real, they are not glass threads or frost work, but the solidest things we know.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson