| When sitting down to write a paper or a book, I invariably ask myself, “Why do you want to take the time and effort to put this piece together?” It’s not only the time and effort that must be devoted to such a task, but it’s also the mental and physical agony that one must endure sitting for hours at a time with a laptop, not just writing but debating with yourself, wanting to make sure that you are heading down the right path. Of course, that debate seldom ends with a firm affirmation of the questions posed.
There is usually, however, something internal that compels me to press on. I also keep going because of the encouragements I receive from my extended family, friends, and colleagues. Some of these people are part of memories of relationships long past, including acquaintances no longer among the living. The bottom line is that no matter who you are and what you do, life is founded on relationships past, present, and those still beyond the horizon. |