Something’s happening, and a lot of people aren’t realizing it. They can feel it, sure; but they aren’t quite able to put their finger on the sensation that they’re experiencing. So let me try to do it for you. I’m going to describe the phenomenon to which I refer in one, concise, statement:

Your consciousness is becoming one with everyone else’s.

I know. Sounds crazy, dunnit? But if you truly absorb what I’m attempting to articulate at the moment, you will realize that I’m being deadly serious. So before you dismiss this as the random bantering of a metaphorical space cadet, please allow me to explain.

Much of what I’m about to tell you is going to sound absurd. That word is emboldened to try and illustrate the fact that just because something sounds crazy to you – doesn’t mean it’s crazy. Because again, I’m fully aware that this will, at first glance, sound nuts. So we need to acknowledge that before we get into this. That way, hopefully you’ll (paradoxically) see that since I understand that, you’ll have an easier time empathizing and realizing that what I am saying is not, in fact, absurd.

Basically, if I’m normal enough to acknowledge how bizarre this is going to sound…then surely I must be grounded enough to deserve at least a small handful of sane credibility.

Phew.

Back to the topic at hand. The first thing I want to address can be summarized by a simple question.

Who are you?

A mundane, rudimentary query, I know. But seriously…think about it. Who are you? What does it mean for you to be reading these very words right now; to have the ability to discern what thoughts, ideas, and concepts are going through my mind at this very moment? In other words…

What does it mean to exist?

Well, I’ve put a lot of thought into that question. A hell of a lot more than most people probably do, if I may say so myself. And to be frank, the only answer I find myself able to come up with is that I have absolutely no clue, whatsoever, what it means to exist – but I’ll be damned if that doesn’t stop me from trying to figure it out.

Which brings me back, again, to my point.

Considering the fact that I’ve begun this process by acknowledging the possibility that I’m nothing more than a speculative ignoramus, I can come to only one conclusion to that question. And it’s quite simple.

We are our thoughts.

What do I mean by that (sorry if that was anti-climatic)? Well, I’m glad you asked, because I’m going to try my best to elaborate. You see, humans (and the human conditions which afflict us all) are enormously complex vessels. We’re born, naturally, with a kagillion unique characteristics that enable us to self-identify. That is to say, we’re all special (not rolling my eyes, I promise). This is a point with which I doubt anyone will take issue. We’re all unique, are we not?

And yet, if you really sit down and think about it…we’re all the same. We all go through good times, hard times, embarrassing times, and proud times, no? Truthfully, the only things separating any of us from each other are the exclusive-to-our-own-plight-in-life situations, which to be perfectly frank, we all have to deal with. Considering that, they really shouldn’t matter in terms of validating ourselves to other people (since that’s what we want, right?)

Ahem.

So, back to the point (for the third time now, I think? I’m not keeping score, I’m sorry). If we are to examine, closely, the things I’ve mentioned in this wall of words above, it shouldn’t take very long to discern the fact that everyone, ever, has shit going on in their lives with which other people can (with an almost eerie sense of congruence) relate. It could be money problems, career problems, familial/marital problems, the-neighbors-dog-shat-on-my-recent-and-meticulously-manicured-lawn problems…you get the point.

We’re all going through shit.

And that’s just it. I’m fairly certain that all of you reading this has recognized, in one way or the other, that literally everyone on the planet has an imperfect life. And we’re beginning to wake up to that coffee-smelling fact. It doesn’t matter what walk of life you find yourself tiptoeing over…there will always be actual millions of people who are sharing your exact same struggles. The challenge is simply to find them, and to be open enough with each other that you both mutually understand that by judging someone based upon the transgressions, misguidances, and otherwise misfortunes of a person’s past is the quickest ticket to a life of loneliness & obscurity ever.

And that’s exactly what I mean when I say our consciences is slowly becoming one. We’re beginning to understand and empathize with each other, because we’re seeing all of these things people have been going through via social media and the internet. The ability to share thoughts and ideas en masse, like we can now, is without a doubt the most game-changing component of societal congruence the Earth has ever seen.

So allow me to share a toast to the human condition, and everything else that we’re fortunate enough to experience together in this once-in-a-billion-years era of time.

Because without a lot of you guys…I’d still be thinking I’m alone in the world.