At the end of an amazing birthday, I felt like writing something about connecting. Connecting with people. Connecting with nature. Connecting with myself.
Humans need those connections.
True connections are the ones where you can be yourself – where you belong. They are built on trust. They are built on common interests. They are built on a strong foundation. Sometimes you have no idea what can grow out of an initially tentative connection. Other times you just know.
There are connections that stay strong like consistent high-speed internet. Others disconnect from time to time. Yet others disconnected for good.
All we can do is send out authentic signals. That’s how we connect with our people. Distance can make a signal weaker or stronger. Bit of a paradox, I know. But once you’re close enough to connect to somebody else’s Wi-Fi the connection is re-established. It’s like you never left.
When I said “connect” so far, I generally meant friendships, but this can also be a friendly chat at a grocery story; a kind word; a pad on the back for a job well done – there are too many examples to list here. And if you’re healing from past wounds, you need to form new connections every single day. Nobody wants to go back to those dial-up modems.
Okay, maybe not “nobody” but I think we’re mostly happy with our new possibilities. So, at the very least, those modems need updating/replacing.
When it comes to connecting with nature, we are the ones who need to make sure we’re well informed and know how to handle ourselves.
Which brings me to something beautiful that happened on my birthday. I was walking a trail and the nature that surrounded me was unlike anything I’d ever seen. I got really emotional. It felt like home. It felt like I had needed to connect with nature for a long time and this was the place and time. It was a moment that I didn’t plan on and that I won’t be able to recreate. It was beyond words.
Having tears run down your cheeks because you found a magical place is an amazing feeling. April 18, 2024 was my turn and boy did I need it. I’ve been on this journey for a while now and it’s moments like these that show me that I’ve made all the right decisions moving forward from January 22, 2020.
I know I’ve talked about re-connecting with myself before, but to be perfectly honest I think I’m connecting with myself for the very first time. This feels like authentic me. It is scary and amazing at the same time.
I also talk to animals, not just domesticated ones. Any animal that crosses my path gets a greeting. Sometimes they stay to chat, sometimes they have places to go, sometimes the watch over me and make sure I’m safe before they move on. Animals teach us patience – e.g. when a group of them are blocking the path we’re on. Animals show us that with a bit of patience and kind words we can achieve anything – obviously don’t try to talk your way out of a potentially deadly encounter with a venomous snake or something like that. In my case it was mostly patience and not me telling them in several languages to maybe move out of my way just a little bit.
Such an important lesson in that. I could only change my behavior – not theirs. That’s it.
Stay connected. Hugs all round.
This is wonderful! I cry publicly for beauty fairly regularly. Strangers often ask if I'm okay :)
I thought of "You've Got Mail" when you mentioned the sound of a modem.
In Africa there is an ancient word "ubuntu" meaning: "I am because you are; I am because we are." There is a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity.