We may look solitary, but we form a vast root system of families, friends, communities, nations, and indeed the entire world. The inevitable changes in my lifeand yoursarent a tragedy to regret. They are just changes to one interconnected member of the human familyone shoot from the root system. The secret to bearing my declineno, enjoying itis to be more conscious of the roots linking me to others. If I am connected to others in love, my decrease will be more than offset by increases to otherswhich is to say, increases to other facets of my true self.

From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks