Who do we think we are kidding?

Wouldn't we all agree that the toughest activity in life is the one we all refer to as relationships (the state of being connected or related)? Even though we all seem to truly want nothing more than to be accepted, respected, valued and cared for, we learn early on how to dance around each other, in some guarded way, careful to not be too transparent and risk injury. All the while, we are perplexed as to why we can't seem to connect with anyone on any meaningful level. We seem convinced that if we are careful with our words, we won't be too revealing as to how we might perceive another and actually feel about each other or some set of circumstances we may find ourselves jointly in. We're not sure when or why all this began, but doesn't it resonate within most of us? Our "handicapped" daughter Amy, who is 33 but verbally communicates at about the 18 month old level, as well as most all of the rest of our "normal" children, can discern (to recognize or perceive clearly) what's really going on, regardless of what words are or aren't being used. Subsequently, if what rolls off of the tongue does not jibe with what is being discerned, a credibility issue most often ensues, and there we go, continuing to propagate distrust and suspicion. Maybe we carry on like this out of fear of being rejected or equally as unwanted, judged. So, perhaps we should make taking that apparently projected element out of ALL of our interactions with one another. If we are successful, the result should be an atmosphere of comfortable trust that encourages us all to share every aspect of life with each other, always. Otherwise, WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE KIDDING? Most sadly, probably only ourselves.