Day 15 Practice: Community
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”
The essential follow up to the practice of grief is community. We humans are not designed to be alone. We need each other. We all desire to feel a sense of connection and community unites us into something greater than just ourselves. It helps us gain wisdom and contributes to our growth as a whole person—heart, mind, and spirit. As Swami Satchidanada often taught, “the I of illness or the WE of wellness; that is the pathway to health.”
But for some of us introverts, especially post pandemic, being in public spaces can be challenging, even uncomfortable. I find it much easier to be at home, in my own environment. And wintertime doesn’t always help. Some of us would rather hibernate than be out and about. But research clearly shows that being in community is crucial to mental and physical health; that having at least one significant person in your life, someone you have a social connection with and can confide in, is a necessity for well-being.
So, as we end our 15 days together, I encourage you to continue to foster community, even if it’s just one other person who shares common interests and passions. Maybe you consider starting a small mediation group, a daily gratitude email/ texting chain, a walking or a yoga partner to be accountable to. The possibilities are endless, but the importance of connection is priceless. So, may we all find our communities where we feel a sense of belonging; where we feel safe, seen, and heard; where we feel inspired; and where we create meaning by coming together. We need one another.
“You are where you are today because you stand on somebody’s shoulders. And wherever you are heading, you cannot get there by yourself. If you stand on the shoulders of others, you have a reciprocal responsibility to live your life so that others may stand on your shoulders. It’s the quid pro quo of life. We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give.”
“Watch carefully the magic that occurs when you give a person just enough comfort to be themselves.”
“This is why we practice meditation—so that we can treat ourselves more compassionately; improve relationships with friends, family, and community; live lives of greater connection; and, even the face of challenges, stay in touch with what we really care about so we can act in ways that are consistent with our values.”
“The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved. In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet.”
“When you Remember Me, it means that you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are. it means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us. It means that if we meet again, you will know me. It means that even after I die, you can still see my face and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart.”
“The grateful person senses that much goodness happens independently of his actions or in spite of himself. Gratitude implies humility- a recognition that we could not be who we are or where we are in life without the contributions of others. How many family members, friends, strangers and all those who have come before us Have made our daily lives easier and our existence freer, more comfortable, and even possible? It is mind boggling to consider this.”
“Environment is stronger than willpower.”