Connections

I have been thinking a lot about connections lately and how vitally important they are.

On the edge of hyperbole; an argument could be made that gravity is a vital connection, after all, without it, where would we be? At the mundane end of the spectrum; timing your departure from work so that you can “connect” with the bus that will take you directly home from work could be considered an important connection. Spend any length of time observing travellers in any major international airport and you’ll see how important connections are to them – racing though the terminals from Plane A trying to catch Plane B. Or what about the travelling salesman, who only has a finite amount of time in any given city to connect with potential customers to make his monthly sales quota. Or what about the power cord and the plug, if didn’t connect, I wouldn’t be able to compose this rambling. Connections matter.

But there are other forms of connection that really started me thinking on this subject; ones that are more soul satisfying.

About two months ago on an unseasonably warm day in the late fall, I went for a walk in the river valley and took pictures of the last of the turning leaves on the trees. I connected with nature and felt renewed. Though it could also be argued that I disconnected from my technologically controlled life, but maybe that’s a topic for another rambling. I did connect with nature that day, and I did feel a lot better for the experience. Feeling the sun on my face, seeing, really seeing, all the nuanced colours on the leaves helped me to feel grounded and alive.

In the past, when I’d get really busy, I would go days without connecting with anyone. No phone calls, no emails; finally realizing that I was disconnected and discontent. But it’s hard to stay disconnected for long, given the vast numbers of ways there are these days to connect; phone, email, text messaging, social networking sites, heck even just occasionally Twittering or updating your Facebook status is a way of saying – “hey, I’m here and this is what I’m up to”; sometimes they are even passive cries for help; “please, reach out and connect with me”.

This past week, as I was in the midst of a really stressful day and I began texting a friend who was having a similarly crappy day. At the end of the day, on my walk home, I was passing his office building and I thought – “I really could use a hug”. Next thing I know, I was in the lobby of the building chatting with him, commiserating about our days and connecting. As we parted, as we did when we met, we hugged; I walked the rest of my way home feeling refreshed, that brief connection was enough to brighten my day.

Sometimes it can be as simple as a “good morning” from a passerby, a stranger acknowledging a fellow stranger. Or a conversation with the friendly sales clerk in the grocery store that you see every time you pick up the essentials. Or maybe just a text message from a friend to say – “Hey, I was thinking about you.” It certainly makes me feel less alone in the universe.

Now, at times, when I get too busy to make time for my friends and I start feeling discontent and disconnected, I once again realize the importance of connecting and immediately make an effort to connect. It doesn’t have to be a lavish party for the masses, even something as simple as meeting for coffee just to say hi, or even as basic as a phone call or as brief as meeting for a hug on the way home, is all that’s required for me to feel more connected with the people around me, part of a bigger picture.

I have to go now; I have some phone calls to make and some emails to write.

I’ll connect with you all later.