What other people think is none of my business

I ran my favorite 5K this morning and had a great meditation down by the river (no, not in a van).  The word that crossed my mind as I watched two butterflies circle about each other in what I can only guess was a precursor to mating was “coexist”.  I’m struggling a bit with my sense of self and learning how to be alone again.  I have good friends, great coworkers, dating a bit, et al.  However, in the morning and especially at night, there is nothing more apparent than I am the only one in the apartment.    I love the peace of the morning and my rituals that come with it when I’ve behaved well the night before.  Waking before the sunrise, praying, brewing coffee, even cleaning up cat litter to a small degree bring me great comfort and ready me for the challenges of the day.  Dressing for my run and looking forward to fresh fruit upon my return are all the little creature comforts a man could ask for.  I’m getting WAY better at coping with stress during the day and recognizing my thoughts and emotional responses for what they are.  I receive them, process them, accept them, and let them go.  I’m learning to respond rather than react.  I’m learning to stop indulging in thoughts that are of no consequence and not based in reality.  I’m learning to examine issues in a quest for a solution, rather than a need to be right.  More importantly, I’m learning to apply this idea: What other people think is none of my business.  I like that.  What’s tough is learning how to not care that someone else doesn’t see or appreciate my growth.  That’s ego talking, I know.  But one thing I do miss is sharing my life with another person – fully and completely.  Sorry,  but the cats just ain’t gonna cut it.