Reconnecting With Life

In my forty-second year, I was content yet drifting—questioning the quality of my friendships and relationships and the choices I had made in recent years. Without steady employment, I had exhausted my retirement funds and bank account just to survive, like so many others during those hard economic times and subsequent recession. America and I were struggling.

 

I returned to my hometown several times in the previous year—initially to support my mother’s fight with breast cancer (the catalyst for what became a personal journey) and later to support my uncle’s losing battle with stomach cancer and to work on the family home.

 

My desire to write was fueled by a convergence of thoughts and questions. I quickly became comfortable using free verse to weave a story or express my perspective. This approach allowed me to rediscover and reconnect with my roots. Hence, Reconnecting with Life is about the journey to reevaluate my life direction.

 

After 18 months of writing, I realized my work was falling into five distinct themes: private reflections, personal observations, social commentary, romantic interludes, and compassion and empathy. These themes are the five chapters of Reconnecting with Life.


Author Bio: Robert Neff is a writer, photographer and contemporary artist who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is an Ohio native and was heavily influenced by his family's Appalachian heritage. His respect for the land and nature are evident in his work, which can be viewed at FifthWorldArt.com.