How Are You Connected?

I wish I could rewind my life and play it again. On the other hand, there is something pretty darn glorious about being here now on my trip through time. I have done the necessary work of physically surviving all these years. I acquired skills and knowledge to raise children, to keep a safe and (relatively) clean house, to work in a profession that brought me great satisfaction. Sure, I did lots of other things but those were the concrete tasks of life. Those were the years when lists were long, when many people wanted/needed my attention, when I got by on the least amount of sleep possible in order to complete all the things. That’s what middle of life years are all about.

But how about later in life years? The lists are still there and some people still need/want my attention but what is my main task now? I know that everyone has their own agenda and their own direction in life but recently I realized that my delight now is connection. There are three forms of connection that I am drawn to: human connection, connection with self, and connection with nature. They all speak to me.

I find human beings to be beautiful and interesting. I enjoy simple and deep conversations with others, especially when words are punctuated with laughter. I savor listening to other people’s stories and plying them with questions. I am especially interested in listening to people who are older or younger than I am. I find my nieces and nephews to be wonderfully engaging , and I love running into kids that I taught in school back in the day. My favorite people to chat it up with are strangers. A highlight of traveling is the opportunity to strike up a conversation with someone you will likely never see again. I’ve had some fun and inspiring conversations with new to me people. I also enjoy those sparks of conversation when you are in the line at the grocery or waiting for your coffee - just those slight nods to our shared humanity.

Connection with self is a bit tricky but, if I make room for it, it can be intriguing, inspiring, and often useful. There are many ways to connect with self but I lean more on reading, writing, meditation, solitary hikes, solitary music / poetry moments, and, yes, conversations with others. Those conversations can open doors to insight, wisdom, gratitude, and possibility. Those are the things that drive me.

Connection with nature is critical for me. To be outside and notice the beauty around me, to let the breeze brush my skin, to see the blues of the world, to notice the seasonal fragrances, to hear bird calls? Amazing. To be aware of my body moving in space, to see the sky/cloud/star moments, to marvel as leaves develop and as they put on their fall fashion show? Stunning.

The photo at the top sums it all up. This is the view from my brother Matthew’s window at his home off the grid in Northern California. I visit regularly at Bell Springs in order to connect with family members. We talk, we read, we hike, we share meals and lots of laughter. I connect with self and others on those visits. The brilliant and beautiful hills and views connect me completely with the natural world. I am humbled by the nighttime views of the Milky Way and the daytime views of hills, trees, and cloud formations.

“We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe atomically.”
― Neil DeGrasse Tyson