Deep in the hearts of us all lies a fear that we are alone. We aren't, of course, but that's the thing about the basic fears - they're born in the nobbly bit of really primal brainstuff right down at the base of the skull. The bit we probably had even as slippery little amphibians on that first, fateful trip to the seaside millions of years ago.

It's a fear which is fought every day by us and by others on our behalf, usually without us realising. It is why we say 'how are you?' and 'good morning' and 'I love you'; often things which have no motivation other than to make the other person feel liked and appreciated and not alone. I think this is perhaps the most noble attribute of our race: We care. Sadly it is also the same fear which makes us join gangs and burn people because they're different from us. That's the bad side of humans: We can hate.

The last week has been a tricky one for me but already I am getting better and feeling more myself. This is in large part because I am surrounded by people who care and and not those who hate. I know I have not suffered from the death of a loved one or the traumatic break-down of a marriage. But it hurt and now I am healing. And the key to this has been those people around me. I believe this: that we must all go through things in life which test us and demand of us greater knowledge and thought as a result. There's no reason for this, no impulse which says 'though shalt screw up in order to learn', it just happens. We're human, we make mistakes, we should become better and stronger people as a result. As individuals this should make us more loving, more experienced and more capable. As a society we stop burning people who are different.

The Greeks knew this as well as anyone, and this is reflected by the famous oracle at Delphi. Her fame spread far and wide. Even Alexander the Great consulted her before attempting to conquer Asia. Passing into a trance-like state she would experience visions which she interpreted for those who sought her out. It is entirely likely that this happened because she kept going into a cave full of naturally-occuring ethylene fumes under the temple, but your average Greek didn't know that. But all this is beside the point. The point is what was hammered into the stone lintel at the entrance for all to see.

It said: gnothi seauton.

In case your ancient Greek language skills are a little rusty, that means, quite simply, 'Know thyself'. To be hurt is sad, but to fail to learn about yourself from that hurt is tragic. To hurt someone through your mistake or inaction is awful, but to fail to learn from that mistake or inaction is even more terrible.

So, today I am happy. Because I have learnt something about myself and because the people around me are relentlessly telling me that I am a decent person. In order to stop them telling me this I have decided to be happy; it's unnerving having them all be nice to me all the time and, frankly, I miss the sarcasm. I also suspect that I am about to trip over the sympathy threshold and be told to stop being so bloody miserable. Which is a fair point. So now I am getting on with it!

Gnothi seauton to you all!

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