Relationships: The Body of our Lives

Ah, Friday night... Time for another Friday Night 'Thought-tale' at the Henderson's. The dramatic change of weather has been coupled with some dramatics in my life this week.  I've been focused on changes and challenges, both positive and negative, a little more than most weeks.  As I dissected these events, it occurred to me that they are all, at the base, rooted in a relationship.  We are individuals, but we are not islands.  Even a Hermit had to have a human connection before they started their hermitage (hermatism? hermanology?) I came to a conclusion: Relationships are the parts that make up the body of our lives.  They are different and distinct parts, with important purposes that we can choose to nurture or neglect, and some with potential harm if ignored. Here are some of the thoughts I had...

• Blood relationships:  These can be life-giving or tainted.  Must be fed and monitored.  Can change on you quickly and become poisoned or weak.
• Bone relationships:  They are your structure that hold you together.  If there's a break, it takes time and care to heal, but they must be healed for you to walk correctly again.  If you decide to avoid the cast, you'll be stricken with a limp that you will eventually not be able to hide.
• Appendage relationships: Arms, legs, feet, handsGive and take relationships.  The movement that brings you to action. They keep you from being stagnant.  
• Muscles and Ligament Relationships: Give us strength and endurance, but can also be painful.  Need to be stretched and exercised, or they start to get flabby and disappear, which isn't good because they keep us challenged.
• Vital Organ relationships: These are those you can't live without.  You might lose a piece - and keep enough to continue - but you'll always notice the absence.  They can be damaged, and this will upset the whole of your life system.  They are few, because they take so much energy and attention to sustain.  They also need you as much as you need them, an important distinction from the others.
• The Extra baggage relationships: Wrinkles, blemishes, stretch marks and cellulite.These guys are there to remind you that nobody's perfect.  They usually come alongside some other relationship and are just part of the deal.  We do what we can to make them not be the focus of our life, but they can take a great deal of unnecessary attention.  We can neglect the other more important parts spending too much time trying to figure them out.  

What parts are most important to you and are you doing what you need to make sure they are healthy or not becoming a negative overshadow of the rest? Are you putting each in their proper perspective and allowing them only hold the power and influence they deserve?  
These are provocative questions, and best discussed over the beverage of your choice, with perhaps one of your Vital Organ people.  For me, it will be with heart/brain Chris over a drink I'm calling "Soul Cleanse".  It's warm and snugly, guaranteed to slow down you down enough to give those muscles a well-earned end of the week break.   So here's to all the relationships that make up the body of our lives, and to their good and proper health!  CHEERS FRIENDS!

• 1 1/2 oz Buffalo Trace Whiskey
• 1 oz dry vermouth
• 3/4 oz cherry juice
• 3/4 oz Rum Chata
• 3/4 oz Frangelico
• Warm milk

Place all in a teacup. Add milk last. Garnish with flavored whipped cream. (for a non-alcohol version, just use the juice and almond milk)