I agree. "The opposite of addiction is connection." Human beings are social. For millennia, people have lived in close social groups. Now, we are isolated. Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll are the problems. Its being cut off from each other.

Interestingly, this is also a primary issue in the world of the chronically mentally ill. In this country, they are either removed from society or made pariahs in some way. In a close society, you don't notice these people. its not that they are not there. Its that they have social roles that fit their needs and they function in society instead of being thrown out.

Of course, in the world of sex offense, the most successful program for reintegration has been the Circles of Support and Accountability that comes out of Canada. The ONLY real tool that program uses is connection.

Why do we not see more of these programs? Because they are not affordable because so much money is needed to seek retribution through long prison stays and the pariah-making sex offender registry!

It may seem crazy, but I have faith in humanity. I think that given more time, people will start coming to their senses and get over the need for retribution. Retribution is about being right at all costs. It never makes anybody really happy because functionally when retribution is sought, all you do is push your internalized guilt onto someone else. Then, every body feels like crap.

The best recent example of transformative attitudes comes from the recent shootings in Charleston. All those people had to do was say that they forgave the shooter. Whether or not the people who said that were actually at the point of full forgiveness is not relevant. To simply state it was enough to start the ball rolling. It was an act of connection.

You are so right, Joe. Acts of connection are the most important things we can do. When we choose to connect (forgive, love, care), the world is changed. Thanks for sharing this. Its great!