Fragmentation

Not for the first time I looked at the sand beneath my feet. Millions of tiny bits and pieces of shell making up the beach on which I walk. Fragments of lives that are either no more, or have moved on to "bigger and better."

These shell fragments always remind me of the fragments of our lives that we leave behind - whether we are no more, or like some of those sea creatures, have moved on. Wherever we go, whomever we interact with, we always leave bits and pieces of ourselves behind. Some of those bits are positive and some are negative. Some of those pieces are large and some, well, may be miniscule.

We don't think about that much. The fact that we always leave a bit of ourselves behind. I believe we do though, even in today's seemingly isolated society. Nor do we think about the bits and pieces of others who are no longer with us - unless, of course, they play a prominent role in our lives. Then, it seems as if we pick and choose between those bits - like shell hunting. We sometimes push aside those miniscule bits in our efforts to fine the best pieces to claim as our own - the biggest, the prettiest, the ones that seem to be the most whole.

What about those parts left behind that are not so pretty? Those that are not "whole?" They too are to be recognized and respected for what they are. If it were not for those miniscule sometimes obscure and not so pretty bits and pieces, we would not have that wonderful beach to walk on and enjoy.