When you lose a loved one, the whole world feels empty. And the reverse is also true: when you feel disconnected from the world, your connections to loved ones begin to wither. All our connections – to the world and to others – flow from the same gentle opening of our heart and soul. What you find in me that makes connection possible is our shared sense of wonder at the mystery of being. When pressure causes it to shut, we cease to relate to the world and to others, and our all-encompassing sense of connection turns into an all-encompassing loneliness.