It's All About Connection
When humans come into this world, the first thing they want and need is what? Some form of connection. A light hug, skin to skin contact, even the doctor demands a little squeeze from the baby's hands (or is that just a Grey's Anatomy thing?). I'm not a doctor but sometimes I wonder if the reason why most humans come out crying is because of the thrill AND fear to connect with the world. Love, connection, a bond, whatever you want to call it, is the root of all our problems, isn't it? Science, history, even the arts have taught us that a lack of quality connection can lead to problems, BIG PROBLEMS. When I look out into the world right now and I see the pain and the anger that fills our screens, I always come back to the same thing, it's a lack of love and true connection.
Imagine this, you're born into a world where you're cared for by multiple people and they, too, were raised by communities where all their needs were met, because the system was designed for everyone to look out for one another. It doesn't matter if you share the same ethnicity, gender, skin color, financial status, etc. Those who have a little more focus on caring for those who don't (because the world isn't perfect and there will be folx with more) and when there is a clear imbalance, the society/system does a good job at adjusting to ensure there is EQUITY (not equality) and justice.
I'll leave the justice piece to Batman, for now let's focus on equity. To put it simply, equity is about redistributing resources based on a person's needs. Even in this hopeful world, fairness doesn't mean everyone faces the same challenges, it means recognizing that different communities experience different problems and responding accordingly. So you're probably asking, what does this all have to do with connection? Well, when I mention the word connection, I don't just mean connecting with another person, I also mean connecting with yourself. It's so vital to our soul as a humanity to also care for ourselves which would naturally come from caring for others. Our world is dealing with 2 extreme types of connection. We have folx who are so connected with what they need right now that they forgot an entire world exists outside of their own. Then we have the other extreme group where they put so much into other people's needs that they are forgetting themselves in the process which is leading to burnout, illness, and sometimes even death. Each extreme type can learn from the other so we can find a harmonious balance of give and take.
I'm not sure what the future has in store for our society, all I know is if we truly work towards being connected to one another, then we might actually enjoy a future with less violence, pain, greed, corruption, injustice, all those scary things people do to each other. I know you don't know the author behind this blog but I ask of you that when you wake up each morning, you make 2 decisions each day: first, find a way to connect with yourself within the first hour of your day. Take a moment to stretch, journal, speak kind words to yourself in the mirror, anything that feels like a hug to your soul. Second, find a moment to connect with someone else. It does not have to be someone you know, it can be that person you keep riding the elevator with each morning. A quick "Hey, I love your shoe color or what are you most excited about for today?", can make a difference in each of your lives.
This might sound simple, maybe even obvious, but the simplest truths are often the ones that bring us back to our core as humans: we need each other. In a time that feels deeply disconnected, choosing connection is a radical act. We can make that choice every day. Because when we turn away from others, we slowly begin to turn away from ourselves, too. It doesn't have to be this way.
Be the change you want to see in the world, not in grand gestures, but in small, consistent moment of reaching toward one another. From our very first breath, we long for connection. When our bodies prepare to leave this world, we long for it again. The key is there. Use it.