The Missing Piece

R.a.n.t. of week 02/08/15

Years ago, (should I admit it was about 40?) I recall thoroughly enjoying a book called the Missing Piece. It was an interesting tale of a 'Pac-Man' looking creature who never felt complete because he was missing a piece. So off he went, in search of what he was missing. But when he found his missing piece, he discovered he didn't really need it and was better off without it. He was fine just the way he was. Sometimes I feel, not like the creature in search of the missing piece, but the actual missing piece. Let's look at the book from his perspective. Here he was, broken off and alone. Then suddenly found he was where he fitted in perfectly. But then, he is abandoned as not being needed. More often than not, I feel like the missing piece others have cast off as not being needing. This can occur in any situation. When this happens at work, you are redundant and let go. But that's another problem and fortunately I have not had to deal with that. However, when you feel like the missing piece when among your friends or family it can be traumatic. How do you deal with that? Mind you, I don't always feel that way, but there are many times in certain situations when I feel I am redundant to my friends or family. When they seem to get along fine without me or I'm not needed. Sometimes I feel I'm the only one who tries to maintain whatever the relationship is. No one likes to feel they are not needed, or unimportant. Sometimes you just want to feel needed, wanted or special to someone. True, at times it all works out in the end, but not always. And the times when it's not working out can really hurt. Then suddenly you realize you are the one missing a piece.