Thursday, March 26, 2009

Went to Hot Yoga for the first time tonight. I really enjoyed it. It's got post material floating in my head but it will have to wait 'til the weekend to coalesce.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "A"

Affection –noun
1. fond attachment, devotion, or love: the affection of a parent for an only child.

Addiction –noun
the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

How well do you think these two fit together? I think it is definitely possible to be enslaved to a fond attachment whose cessation causes trauma. In fact, I wouldn't be posting it if I didn't see that as a possibility (and in my own life no less).

It's no coincidence that quitting an addictive product/activity carries many similarities to ending a relationship. Is it best to go "cold turkey"? Is it possible not to? "Ya, now I'm down to one line of coke a week..." (JOKE! NOT REALLY!)

Maybe the difference lies in whether the source of the addiction, or more specifically the object of the addiction is a person or a thing. It does tend to complicate things.

Then again, an addiction to affection isn't necessarily about a particular person, but rather a particular attention or connection and that may be human nature - the need to seek out others with whom we feel a kinship or connection.

Addiction is a term that has plenty of implications. I guess I'm just trying to explore the language and the concept.

Monday, March 09, 2009