15 Comments
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Addie's avatar

Your words feel like nourishment we're all sorely in need of. It's always a joy to slow down and sink into your reflections.

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Stanley Wotring's avatar

Making social connections provides a web of support that strengthens are coping abilities to deal effectively with life’s challenges.

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Nessa Meshkaty, MD's avatar

It is so true. It is why it is so closely linked to longevity. Authentic and genuine relationships are crucial. Many are surrounded by others but still feel empty and lonely. I am not referring to the cliques and silos of nuclear families and respective pods (a type of division that was cemented during Covid). I think true community reaches beyond the echo chambers that most Americans exist in today. It is important for all of us to learn to discern what constitutes quality relationships. To be honest, this was a big learning curve for me recently.

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Angie Van Matre's avatar

Love Love Love...your words ring true and I had such an amazing visit with you. I cherish our time together!

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Nessa Meshkaty, MD's avatar

Your visit was perfectly timed! I take none of it for granted ever. Xo

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Basically Real People's avatar

You are so right and so spot on.

The societal woes in these difficult times are encumbered even more by the lack of pure, social interaction. I say ‘pure’ for the sake of identifying it as separate from the selfish me, me, me connections so readily present in the inhuman stare of 21st century blindness. Not blindness of the eye—oh no—the eyeholes in the masks people wear provide the perfect way to see and not be seen.

The issue with this is there is nothing to see. Only a sea of masks others wear to also hide behind. The blindness is of the heart—that organ long considered as the seat of the soul, the comprehension of all that resides in spirit where masks do not exist and what you “see” is what you get.

Keep up the good work—the work of opening the eyes of others’ hearts and allowing them the clarity to remove their own masks with eyeholes for seeing only other’s masks. Thank you for prose that can release them from feeling “normal” in this plastic-filled nightmare of a 21st century illusion of life. Tank you for providing them a doorway into the depth and freedom of inner peace, if—like the fish you mentioned in your writings—they can comprehend the difference.

—Zach

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Nessa Meshkaty, MD's avatar

Thanks for the heartfelt comment and kindnessss. I agree that the superficiality is catching up with us as we realize we spend most of our breathing/waking hours with people who don’t know how to genuinely connect anymore if ever. It seems that it is multifactorial and that we each can commit to fostering meaningful relationships outside of the pods we so readily formed (during covid).

I think people know the deficiencies of their heart of hearts. Hopefully things will change for future humans. I think AI will play a pivotal role for our betterment in that department.

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Basically Real People's avatar

You’re most welcome. I just began a newsletter on here a few days ago. I am a mental health psychotherapist and have seen first hand what the news cycle that is available online with all the negative news headings that draw people into a habituation of indulging in the stories (many of which are mostly sensationalized) and wind up with anxiety and fears that require treatment. I consider it therapeutic for me to write them also, lol, so I hope it helps others.

I was surprised to hear a positive look from you in terms of AI. Most see it a a doomsday creation of major proportions! Lol! I totally agree with you. I see it becoming beneficial to humankind in many ways. Sorry to make this response so long. I guess it was unique to actually speak with someone with depth enough to make responding at length seem a natural course of action.

Keep up your good works—the world needs you.

—Zach

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Tracy Kolenchuk's avatar

Those who want to rule hate connection. Communities overrule oppressive rulers. Communities, therefore, are bad. Isolation, the "preventative" for COVID, prevents resistance.

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Nessa Meshkaty, MD's avatar

There does seem to be motivation for some to perpetuate isolation and separation. Its hard to predict which acts were deliberate or fallouts of an epidemic of brain sickness that got out of control aka hatred/fear/greed.

I respect all viewpoints including yours. I was on the front lines as an infectious disease physician in a government hospital. I took a lot of notes. my lived experience plus my expertise gives helps shape my viewpoints. I dont believe there is a right way but prefer kind and wholesome if an option exists.

Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.

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Dr. Bob Gonzalez's avatar

What I define as a friend can’t be managed or achieved with social media. At least, I don’t think so. I try to remain flexible. I once complemented a younger emotionally vulnerable relative who had posted on Instagram and got 260 likes on his post. His response is “Uncle Bob, you are not popular unless you get a couple thousand likes. What a world to live in. Especially because social media popularity is sought after.

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Nessa Meshkaty, MD's avatar

It is a sad world when the metric of self worth is dictated by something as shallow as a click on a like button in a virtual world. I think the flex is connecting to the immediate environment around us to find our footing to more humane authentic in real life ways of existing. I have a lot of feelings about like/dislike buttons that fuel our like/dislike ego reflexes. That said, I think technology can be connecting but only when used correctly and when the adverse effects of it are understood and limited.

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Dr. Bob Gonzalez's avatar

I think that is a wise perspective. We need to live in our real world construct.

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Dr. Bob Gonzalez's avatar

An important topic. The word friend is broad and sweeps up many people and contacts without a qualifier. Are they close friends, life-long friends, intimate friends, supportive friends, friends with benefits or even fair-weather friends. I am not sure how best to address it because almost any friend is a positive addition to one’s life. I only have a handful of close or intimate friends. I suppose my definition narrowed over time. Facebook friends and Instagram followers are a menagerie of relationships. I wonder if younger generations have become confused about friendship and emotional commitment and intimacy.

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Nessa Meshkaty, MD's avatar

I would venture to say that many are confused as to what constitutes authentic relationship and presence. The hidden and not so hidden societal and cultural and personal forces have normalized inauthentic and harmful ways so much that we do not even know what is harmful and what is helpful anymore. Our discernment is disturbed.

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