The Complete Substitute for All Forms of Sociability

That day, it seemed the only sound in the forest was the soft trickle of river water. Even the wind did not dare blow. The trees stood still. The young man standing knee-deep in the middle of the stream made a small movement. In his hand was a spear tipped with sharpened stone. A whole second passed. There was a splash. The young man swung. In the next instant, the spear reappeared in his hand. Stuck to its tip was a large, brown goby. The fish wriggled, struggling to escape, but after only a short time, it stopped moving. The young man removed it and casually placed it inside the wicker basket tied around his waist. Before closing, he inspected his catch. One, two, three goby. One big catfish and three or four smaller variety fishes. Enough for the day. He gazed up but the foliage was so thick, he could only see glimpses of the clear blue sky. It looked like the sky itself was in pieces. He gave a sigh and prepared to wade his way back to the banks. Someone was watching...

So I just found out today that I'll have about ten teaching loads this semester. That's a lot and it scares me a little bit. Am I up for that much work? Last semester, I only had three. I do take teaching seriously and I'm not about to turn in a half-assed job, but am I ready for this kind of commitment? I feel that I am but I am afraid...of putting in that much effort for something which can be quite frustrating. Teaching college students how to think for themselves and take initiative? Not easy, I've learned the hard away, and I could just as easily get frustrated and disillusioned by it all, if I let my emotions get in the way. As always and in every aspect of my life, the question I face is: How do I get involved without getting attached? Emphasis on the involved  bit because detaching myself from situations is what I do best. Detachment. While we're on the topic, let me say, with probable traces of ego, that I am the most detached person I know. There are onl...