Heroes Not Zombies

Of course, an ordinary passerby would think my rose looked just like you. But my rose, all on her own, is more important than all of you together, since she’s the one I’ve watered. Since she’s the one I put under glass, since she’s the one I sheltered behind the screen. Since she’s the one for whom I killed the caterpillars (except the two or three butterflies). Since she’s the one I listened to when she complained, or when she boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing at all. Since she’s my rose.
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

A rose….but not just any rose.

Saint-Exupéry writes about a rose which the Little Prince cares for, and also writes about a fox with whom he forms a personal relationship. When talking about the fox, he uses the word “taming”, but in both cases he is describing the creation of personal relationships.

For each and every one of us, we experience life personally. We experience everything from our own, unique, subjective viewpoint. As we do that, we form particular, personal connections. You and others will feel differently about particular places, particular creatures, even particular trees and flowers.

It’s the same for us with people. The more we connect to someone, the more special we feel they are to us.

It seems to me that this is one of the best ways to improve the quality of our lives – make connections, form caring bonds…..make life personal.