less traveled
Just re-read M. Scott Peck’s book The Road Less Traveled.
Written in 1978.
I read it in 1984.
It blew my mind at the time. Was somehow relevant to my first long-term relationship. Explained things.
Wanted to see what I would “see” upon a second read, 33 years later, with all the couples therapy perspectives I currently hold.
The first time, I remember reading something about the culprit of expectations.
I was surprised this second round to read so much encouragement of differentiation and blasting of forms of dependency.
Scott goes so far as to call a person who says, “I can’t live without you” a parasite.
He goes on to suggest that “you would be better off being dependent on heroin.”
Finally, this made an impression on me that I’ll never forget:
Love is defined as loving someone when you don’t feel like loving him or her.
Wow.
David Levingston
Like everyone, I have different sides. Counselor, photographer, writer, cooker of food – both spicy and plain, and seeker of truth and happiness. I have always taken an interest in the unassuming things that pass us by – both heard and seen, both ordinary and not so ordinary. They are all sacred and beautiful in some way.