One of the first things to suffer from our fast-forward, busy-all-the-time culture is our relationships. Whether you are single or partnered, caught up in the frenzy or swimming against the tide, getting and staying connected has become more of a challenge. We need both a fresh perspective on relationships and a straightforward way to strengthen our connections. Unexpected Intimacy offers both. In a refreshing change from the ubiquitous relationship books written on the life is incomplete without the perfect soul-mate theme, Gabriel reveals a path of conscious relationship-making-including connections with time, space, place and soul. The collection of nearly 50 stories is peppered with intriguing research from the medical and social sciences that highlights health benefits of rich social connections. From stories of Gastronomical Intimacy through explorations of Family of Circumstance to pondering Intimate Legacies, readers are inspired to take a longer look at the breadth and depth of their relationships. In our too-busy 21st century lives, Unexpected Intimacy is a compelling reminder of how nourishing everyday connections can be.