Community and Connection – It’s Primal

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Conscious Connection

I just watched the end of This Is Us. And I am full of emotions and typing this through watery eyes. We all grow up with communities within our neighborhoods, schools, churches, and friend circles. In some relationships, we feel like a fish out of water, and sometimes we just click with people and form our tribes.

When I landed in California with nothing, I knew no one (I talk about this period in my book). I put an ad on the health food store bulletin board that I was doing a women’s circle…forget what I themed it…and I’m still dear friends with one of the women who came. We moved in together, I helped her with her home birth, we started a home business and went to graduate school together, all resulting from one action of putting a note on the bulletin board.

If we have children, we are thrust into the connection with other parents at community centers, in the organizations our children join, and in the sports they do.

But as we age, do we stay connected or have a tendency to isolate?  I love my alone time, and also I stay mindful that there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. I also remember we’re all tribal beings, our survival depends on each other as does our happiness. There is no right or wrong answer to the question above…just something to think about…do you want more connection in your life, and if so, what do you want it to look like?

How do we make new connections? Most cities have MeetUps, and you can look for an activity you like, art, writing, bird watching, meditation…and go meet up with like-minded people. Is there a cause you’d like to volunteer for? Love books…volunteer at the library. You’ll meet like-minded people all day.

So I’m asking myself some questions…feel free to join me…Am I willing to get out of my comfort zone and grow my tribe? Am I willing to spend some time cultivating deep friendships? How do I want to serve in a heart-centered way that will create more connection?

What’s your thing…do you love to dance, cook, amble in nature, or howl at the moon? I have been known to howl the moon alone, but I love a spontaneous howl with my Tallahassee tribe.

I hope we get to meet one of these days. Let me know if you are connected to a bookstore or a tribe of people who might like me to come to town and do a reading or workshop. The easiest way to reach me is artbyelayne@gmail.com.

1 Practice to Tune into the Body

To explore the feeling of connection in your body, slow down your breath and get in touch with your heart. Think of when you felt most connected…was it with a friend or a group of friends? Was it in a group marching for a cause? Do you still have that feeling in your life, or do you want to create more connection?

2 Shifts to Observe the Mind…with curiosity and an open heart

Cultivate a mindset of openness. Let your imagination wander as you think about new activities or adventures that light you up.

Observe when you are the happiest…are you alone or with others?

3 Quotes and a Question to Awaken the Soul 

“The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food”. – Dean Ornish

“I think community and connection with people around us – and feeling that we belong – is really valuable.” – Ruth Jones

“We don’t heal in isolation, but in community”. – S. Kelley Harrell

And drumroll…the Question

What is one baby step I can take to make a meaningful connection?

Big love to all of you. Thanks so much for visiting, e’Layne

To buy my #1 Amazon Bestselling book, click on the picture of my book below. It has lots of exercises to quiet the minds of the loud-mouth naysayers. If you’ve purchased my book and haven’t left a review, I would really appreciate it if you would…Amazon puts books in front of more people based on reviews, e’ xooxo