“Connections”
Life is all about connections, our relationships that enrich and define our lives. Connections appear in our roots grounded in our families of origin, our history. These connective roots have added to the dimension of who we have become along the way, a critical part of our context and understanding. Our current relationships at home with our partners, spouses, siblings, and children enhance our lives and character, creating depth and dynamic, struggle and reward. Connections enhance our ability to love.
Our connections with friends whether old, current or those who soon become our “chosen family” provide us great support, refuge, and laughter. We see a reflection of ourselves and our partners through these relationships. Friendships add such beautiful dimension to our corner of the world and the space around us. They simply make life more fun!
A third connection, often overlooked, is one we find looking inward for our own self-discovery. The quality of self-awareness or working through one’s own struggle or desire to change are three healthy elements of our connection with self. It is true that a healthy relationship with oneself leads to better and healthier connections with others. Unfortunately, too often, this personal relationship gets overlooked, pushed back, or even denied. Balancing self-reflection and care and honoring boundaries are areas of self-connection that many struggle with daily. There is healing and profound joy to be found in self-discovery and healing.
Finally, there are deeper connections we experience on a spiritual level. Often, these connections are strengthened during great pain, life transition, or loss. While not referring necessarily to religious faith, some may experience their spiritual relationship in profound belief. But, every one of us also possess an “inward spirit” and frequently the two are enmeshed. We can feel our “inward spirit” lying dormant, broken, or alternatively, feel it as peaceful and enlightened. We can feel alone as floating islands or feel that we are an integral part of the universe… just one small part of “vast connections.”
This profound relationship is difficult to reduce to mere words. Better described as an experience taking shape in the exhilaration and serenity we feel when we watch an eagle soar, or look down from a mountain peak onto a valley, witness the consistency of the ocean waves or the seasons, catch a vivid colorful sunrise or sunset. This Spiritual connection speaks to and through us even beyond death.
Connections are all around us and they are echoing our names inviting us to come closer.
Ann Mayes, MA, LPCC, NCC
Clinical Psychotherapist and Counselor