It’s interesting because when I think about our lives in terms of connection, there seems to be a common (mis)understanding that connection happens to us. Like it’s something that is somehow externally created or driven. We make the assumption that because someone grows up in a close-knit community, connection (at least with that community) is easy. Connection is easy, like they learned how to do it, and they already have their connections, all sewn up. Or if they have a close-knit family, same thing… connection is easy. If they attended the same school for a long time, connection is easy. And if you don’t have any of those structures, connection is hard, if not impossible for you…
But we don’t realize how much connection is a choice and that we actually have to make ourselves open to it! (Yes, this is the ‘Choose Connection’ post, how did you guess?!?)
When I look at choosing connection it is about opening our hearts, and that can be hard and scary for people, especially if they’ve been hurt (in love relationships, in friendships, or by people who were supposed to be trustworthy). Connection is still a choice, even for them. Sure, there is a likely a first step of mending their heart, but it’s such a worthy step!
