“Now that our communities are beginning to open up again with the arrival of vaccines, we see others with new eyes, eyes that have shed tears at not being able to see them at all,”writes Father Edward L. Beck, a Passionist Roman Catholic priest, an author and playwright. Yes, we are gradually waking up from the strange dream (or was it reality?) of the year of unprecedented events.
“The past year has been a tutorial in the difference between aloneness and loneliness, the difference between solitude and isolation. I like my own company. But I also liked choosing when and how to be alone—when I called the shots and aloneness wasn’t imposed on me. When I chose it, I reveled in solitude. When it was imposed on me, I resented it and felt lonely and achy. It’s akin to the difference between a single person who wants to be single and one who desires to be partnered or married. One is a state of contentment; the other, a state of restlessness,“ says Father Beck. The renowned cardiologist Dr. Mimi Guarneri has made a fascinating statement that, when considering true heart health, acute, prolonged loneliness is worse that smoking, drinking or being obese. The longest living people on this Planet live in clusters – they live in connected communities, which is a glorious proof of the significance of connectedness. This praise of the communities also encompasses practice and commitment to those very communities: to immediate and extended family, neighborhood communities, our yoga communities, book clubs and everything else clubs, parenting groups, school friends, college friends, volunteer organizations, charities, our workplace community and so on. When we are connected, we are powerful and, most likely, able to rebuild (if needed, when needed) almost anything – our health, our life, our Planet.
During this last year the birds outside my window sang every morning no matter what was happening in the world. I tried to see them as my teachers in facing my days with optimism, gratitude and a song (when possible). I did not always succeed but it often helped. In some strange way I allowed the songbirds to support and nurture me in my days and nights. The duties of the night support shifts were performed by a mocking bird right out our bedroom window; oh, if you have ever had one living next to you, you know what I am talking about! They also taught me that it is important to greet the Sun literally every day, no matter what. Sun Salutations anyone? And actually, yes, it happened – we did break out in spontaneous (properly distanced) Sun Salutes on our early morning walks along the Pacific coast with my family and friends. Sun Salutes (performed to honor all four directions) felt good – they felt just right! I guess, in their appropriateness of greeting the Sun, they could be likened to the birds’ songs.
We have spent a whole year in an echo chamber of our own not-knowing and despair, trust, hopes and the stubborn willingness to believe that all can be/will be well. And yes, I believe that for that “all will be well” to happen we need the “new eyes”. That involves radical self care and compassion, patience, awareness and open, awakened (if possible) heartmind and taking good care of our communities. It involves walks and talks, forest bathing (Japanese practice – shinrin-yoku – conscious, deliberate, contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest), yoga and dance, singing and humming, eating nourishing, clean foods and, hopefully, growing them, too, drinking clean water, and truly paying attention to what is. It involves feeling safe. It involves feeling felt – seen and heard. It involves taking a gentle pause to breathe and reset our inner compass. Let’s do it! Good luck to us all!
If I could, I would like to hug everyone! Small, big, fat and thin … old, young,…. I think everyone needs a hug from someone…
Thank you, Ilze, for your hugs, and, thank you for your comment, and yes, yes, yes, we all- big, fat, small, thin etc…, as you say, need a hug from anyone… someone… now more than in any other times… hopefully… soon we can really do it in person… as yes, yes, yes, that is what we have been missing… Thank you, I will definitely take one (hug)! Thank you! And hugs back!
Thank you! It’s good not to forget that although for a long time you’re separate, but not the only one in the immediate or distant surroundings. Let “new eyes” allow us to see it!