Everything Connects to Everything

I believe that everything connects to everything.  Do you? 

Or, do you think we are all islands unto ourselves?  Or is it somewhere in between? 

I love learning about different philosophies, considering another viewpoint from my own, and thinking about how my beliefs may not be the “right” ones, just because it’s what I’ve heard my whole life.  So many different traditions, with seemingly nothing in common, have different versions of the same guidelines, stories, and paths.  To me, when there are common denominators across multiple belief systems, there must be some truth in there. 

Most of us do the best we can with the knowledge we have right now.  How many of us, though, ask ourselves whether or not our beliefs needs to change?  It’s like that Michael Jackson song. Start with the person in the mirror.  One thing we know is that change is the only constant.  I’m sure you’ve heard “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  If you practice that statement, then you probably agree🙂.

Many of us—me included—end up filling the role of bridge, or translator, or intermediary.  One student may take what a teacher says and say it another way, until their friend “gets it.”  Another might intercede between two friends that never seem to agree, and the friends end up understanding each other.  Early in our marriage, my husband were friends with another couple who would leave the same conversation with VERY different—opposite even—impressions about what was said.  We would translate what one of them said to the other one. 

Because of my experiences, I could very easily be biased about this, but I don’t think I am.  Remember that game Seven Degrees from Kevin Bacon that was so popular back in the 90’s?  The concept was you could connect anyone to Kevin Bacon in seven degrees or less.  Heck, the movie “A Few Good Men” alone makes that possible!  The game proves it.  You can relate absolutely anything to anything else.  It just takes making the connections.

The word connection may mean something different to you than it does to me.  It has become almost a buzz word in the coaching community.  Because of the ongoing pandemic, people are craving connection.  Well, guess what.  That connection is already there.  We just have to reach for it.

My hope is that we can use this connection that already exists to help each other through this crazy time, see the world from another’s point of view, and even (call me a dreamer) bring peace to the planet!  If we could focus on our connection—the characteristics we share—then it seems like we could begin to listen to and understand each other.  And, after all, that’s what we need to expand the amount of peace in the world.  If we understand each other, people will feel seen and heard.  Acknowledgement of any challenge is the first step towards solving it, or at least, brining it out in the open. 

I finished my 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2019.  My class consisted of 9 unique women from different walks of life, belief systems, and orientations.  At the time of our training, our ages ranged from 20 to 62.  We became a sangha – a community – because of our time together, and there is still a deep connection between us.  We design a tattoo that we all intend to get, although COVID has delayed that.  The tattoo is a symbol for the African word ubuntu.  One translation is “I am because we are.”  It’s about our shared humanity, our deepest connection. 

The next time you have a disagreement or get angry by a media report, think about this post, our connection, and ubuntu.  Everything does connect to everything.  The key is to find that connection and build on it.

I’d love to hear your feedback on connection, so leave a comment, and tell me what you think.