We like cozy. We have windows we look out…we do not want people to look in. No man is an island, but we try. People are refreshed if the dosage is not too high. Fears from without and within compel us to privacy. Our Shell is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Perhaps we answer the door, or we look out of the window to see who it is. We might have to play opossum.

Our world is full of wonder. There are many good people. Trying something new brings excitement to living. Suddenly, our minds are engaged, and our spirits soar with the eagles. A heady experience when compared to our Shell. As a boy, I feared public speaking. In the halcyon days of my youth, book reports were a requirement. Trepidation consumed me. I loved my Shell! Yet, I soldiered on. Imagine my surprise when the class loved my retelling of the book I had read! They laughed and clapped and wanted more. A transformation had occurred. To this day, when I speak publicly, I can not explain the metamorphosis. We Shell lovers never change. Yet a hidden side of me takes over in a public oration. No one is more surprised than me…

Dip your toe in the water. Perhaps you will want to pull up your trousers and wade out into the cold majestic for a few feet. You know where butterflies come from…

Reversals cause us to withdraw into our shells. It is easier to peek out at the world than to interact with it, we say. ‘In my Shell I am safe from all harm,’ the Old Man mused. ‘It is a quiet place, but sometimes I like a little excitement,’ the Old Man said. ‘Good people inspire me,’ the Old Man continued. ‘It is a meaningful experience to help another,’ the Old Man thought. ‘Perhaps if we all removed our shells, we could learn more about each other,’ OM contemplated.