Think for a minute about the worst insult you can lob at someone. Our Tapestry guest argues that insult would be "Loser" and that it is a symptom of a world too competitive and too lonely for its own good.

Writer George Monbiot invites you to think about the lust to be a winner, the quest to be number one. He says the modern world is choking on its own competitiveness, as people ignore or forget that we are profoundly social beings, with a need to connect.

You can read George's Guardian article about loneliness here.

If it's true that human beings pay a big price when we fail to connect, then a strong bond - an unlikely bond - between two people, is no small thing.

Michael Murray tells us about a letter he wrote to a woman he hadn't seen in ages. A long time ago, she would cheer for the Montreal Expos with the neighbourhood kids. He was one of the gang. Then, years later, with all that time and space between them, she was dying - and he needed to say goodbye.

You can read more of Michael's essays here.

Loopy Optimism: that's how illustrator Maira Kalman describes her outlook on life. Maira talks about the beauty in everyday-objects. Also the futility of de-cluttering when you really, really love stuff.

Her latest book is called, My Favorite Things.