Our lives are not separate from the lives or others or the world around us. Our lives are constantly being changed – physically, mentally, and emotionally – through our interactions with our environment and other living beings. Our lives also have a great impact on our environment, and on the lives of those around us. In many ways, our lives extend beyond our own bodies and touch the far reaches of the universe, and our bodily life depends upon the very structure of that universe in order to maintain its existence. The universe as a whole is in many ways our own extended body, for our body depends upon the gravity exerted by the stars, the warmth of the sun, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the ground we stand on, and the many people and other beings who provide us with food, shelter, and companionship. This is true of our ideas and emotions as well.