Calm in the Chaos - Tips for a Better Life
Human Connection Sustains Us
by Jamie Spannhake
August 11, 2020
I've been MIA since last Tuesday. If you've tried to connect with me, here's why: Tropical Storm Isaias came through Connecticut last Tuesday, we lost power, internet, and water at 3:00 pm that day. And cell service was very limited. After 8 days without those services, I felt unhappy and unmotivated.
It got me thinking as to why that is, exactly.
Was it all the frustrations of daily life? Filling the toilet tank with bottles of water to be able to flush; taking cold showers at a friend's house who has a generator, but it doesn't power the water heater; driving 15-20 minutes to find a cell signal to have a previously scheduled call with the court, only to have the call drop half-way through; driving 45 minutes to my office for power and internet, and having it go dark not long after I arrive. If I had nothing to do but relax, perhaps the lack of services wouldn't be so daunting and frustrating.
But that wasn't it. I meditate to be able to handle daily frustrations, and my practice was very helpful.
It was really about the lack of connection because of the loss of my communication abilities. As an introvert, I enjoy my alone time, so this surprised me a bit. Human connection is more important than ever right now, and to go from lack of physical connection due to COVID-19 to a more remote kind of connection was challenging, but we all adapted.
This last week, even that newly-accepted digital ability to connect was also taken away, for 8 days. It was rough. In times of trouble, human connection sustains us; it is the glue that keeps us from falling apart. Without it, life is hard.
Related Content: New Habits for Human Connection
So, to everyone to whom I am connected, let me say now: I am grateful for being connected to you, no matter whether we are old friends, new friends, colleagues, or acquaintances.
(The photo is of a large tree on power lines, over the road. Someone trimmed the branches so cars could drive under it. It was like this for nearly a week before anyone came to remove it and to repair the power lines.)
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