Today Kat McNally asks us to respond to the following Reverb prompt:
The hectic pace of our lives can make it difficult to remain connected to the things and the people that matter the most to us. We get wrapped up in our work or our busyness and connection falls by the wayside.
How have you created and/or sustained connections in your life this year?
I feel very blessed to have lots of love and support in my life. And staying connected is important to me. But I’m also a HSP introvert so you’re not likely to find me at huge gatherings or festive parties.
I have weekly phone meetings with two small groups of women friends – we’re scattered across the country but we’ve been meeting this way for years and each week we catch up with what’s going on in each other’s lives and then spend time digging deep into what I consider to be our Light work. And as you can imagine, being friends for so long, there’s lots of magic and laughter and soul support.
I’ve also been studying for years with a group of amazing women, and we meet monthly by phone and once a year we spend a week in retreat.
I also try to stay connected with folks through the mail. I was a prolific mailartist for many years, but I’m doing less of that these days. But I do still do 6 or 8 mailings each year to my friends – honoring the seasonal turning of the wheel plus celebrating a few other holidays that delight me. I love introducing friends to new poetry and I love infusing the things I send with love and good energy.
One of the fun projects I’ve been doing this year is sending a few love letters out each month. I am so in love with the idea of love letters – I think we should be writing and sending them to everyone. In my vision of the perfect world we each live amidst a flurry of love letters. Wouldn’t that be delicious?
I’ve made some really wonderful connections online, but I have to say social media is pretty much a hit-or-miss kind of thing, with the margin definitely on the miss side.
But as the prompt suggests, connections are not just with people. How do I stay connected to the things that are important to me? I won’t say I work very hard at it because that suggests it’s a chore, but I will say that I sustain great focus honoring what’s important to me. I often say that I want only treasures in my life, and while sometimes that’s taken to mean physical objects, I really extend the definition to mean everything. I want only those things that delight and fill me up and excite me and stimulate my curiosity and intrigue me and make me want to respond by being the very best, the very fullest version of me. That’s what I want. And that’s what I make a priority in my life. I work at keeping pretty healthy boundaries to steer away from drama and overwhelm, and I fill my life with practices that nourish me and feel good. I let my heart steer me and my intuition guide me and I trust in the overwhelming goodness of the universe and its inhabitants.
As a bit of an aside, my surname is Weber, which means weaver in German. But I also honor the association with Spider who has blessed my life in so many ways. And who is of course a great connector with her web. So you see why connections are important to me.
What about you? How do you stay connected to the people and things that are important to you? How do you feel about spiders – it seems to be a love them or hate them kind of thing. Which side of continuum are you on? Have any totem connections related to your name? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Beautiful Deborah! I am not surprised that you have wonderful groups of women that you meet with on a regular basis and that you have retreats. You seem so warm, gracious, and knowing. I love how your wisdom informs all that you do!
I am glad that I have connected with you here on the internet! I consider you a “hit”!
It’s been a delight connecting Hallelujah. The internet is such magic!
So nice to visit your space. I loved these words of yours ” I want only those things that delight and fill me up and excite me and stimulate my curiosity and intrigue me and make me want to respond by being the very best, the very fullest version of me. ”
Thank you for sharing them!
Thanks Katy – I’m delighted you stopped by.
A great post and reflection on today’s prompt Deborah! I tend to be one who enjoys solitude more than most but connections are also important to me. In the past few years though, I’ve found that my online connections are more supportive and uplifting than my ‘real life’ connections have been and I am glad to have connected with YOU!
I SO count connecting with you as one this year’s blessings Monica.
It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought and effort into your connections and it’s paying off for you. As far as spiders go – I’m not sure about the love or hate thing, I feel pretty indifferent to them. They don’t scare me, but I wouldn’t go as far as claiming I love them.
I’m thinking now maybe that spider indifference is more common that I thought. Perhaps my initial response was skewed because I love Spider and when I mention it many folks respond with fear or repulsion.
I love letters. I was doing a great job at correspondence for a while and then I dropped off. I need to get back to it as I truly enjoy it. Love the spider association and connections. Another thoughtful, beautiful post, Deborah. I am so happy we connected. 😀
I’m happy we connected as well Tracy. And here’s to more letters and things that make us happy.
Deborah, you are a beautiful person.
It is very hard for me to remain connected when there is too much busy in my life. Both loss and illness have brought me a precious gift: awareness of time and how I exchange it for experience. Part of the motivation is directly related to what you write: I want to be and feel connected.
Those love letters are precious. I write them, too, though not as faithfully. This post inspires me to be and give. Thank you.
It’s a precious gift when we reached the point where we know ourselves and honor that knowing. I’m wishing you not-too-much busyness and a great sense of connection. And many many love letters.
I love the idea of love letters! I’ve been thinking about Christmas presents and how to create something that is truly meaningful – a love letter feels right, like it could be something those dear friends could appreciate it. I need to find an excuse to send love letters.
Thank you for sharing!
Oh what a beautiful idea Jen – love it! And BTW – thanks for the prompt in the first place. Yay you.