Have you ever been talking on the phone to someone, only to find out that somewhere in the story you were telling, the connection had been lost and you were talking to dead air? I have. My friends assure me that it is a “dropped call”, and that they haven’t hung up on purpose. Much time is then spent figuring out where I was in the story and what details need to be re-told to get the listener up to date. I miss the days when you would hear a dial tone to let you know that the connection had been lost. Simpler times!
Connection is important. We recently spent a lot of time and energy changing internet providers because we were hosting zoom classes and would frequently get the dreaded error message: “Unstable connection”. I saw a meme this week reminding us that, as we wait the long 5 seconds for Netflix to load, we used to use dial up connection. The screen would say things like “dialing attempt 1 of 5” and you would hear an earth shattering noise that still makes my eye twitch if I hear it to this day. In technology, we have come a long way at maintaining connection. I am continually grateful that COVID 19 happened when it did, and not 10 or 20 years earlier, as we are able to stay connected with so much more ease.
Connection to people is essential. It affects our mental health. A friend was talking to a paramedic recently who told them that the rate of suicide and attempted suicide in the GTA is up an alarming amount since the start of our lock down. Whether we are introverts or extroverts, we need some form of connection. If we are already low, it is difficult to problem solve and find connection in these challenging times. It is possible, but it takes creativity.
I know some friends are playing Euchre with each other, in 4 different physical locations, over the internet. They can have their cameras on and chat as they play each hand. My kids have figured out how to watch television shows and movies with their friends, everyone together on facetime and commenting on the show during the commercials. The ability to have connection to community is possible- we just have to acknowledge its’ importance and make it a priority.
Connection is also important to ourselves. Injury and illness occur when one loses or diminishes the ability to listen to their own body. So many things we do act to decrease this connection- we prize productivity and work towards deadlines- sitting in cramped postures and ignoring our body’s need to move or stretch in order to get the job done! We are quick to take medication to mask symptoms rather than search for the root cause of the problem. This reduces connection.
What can we do? Regular practice of SRI, Yoga, Tai Chi and other breath and mind/body work along with regular Network Care will help repair and improve our self-connection. We have to feel it, to heal it. The month of February, home of Valentine’s Day and Family Day, we think about relationships a lot. Take the time to consider your connections with others, and how you may strengthen them. Think also about your connection to yourself and what you can do to improve that.
With banking and other confidential situations, technology refers to something called a “Secure Connection”. You don’t want to be cyber-robbed and lose your hard-earned money. You do what it takes to develop and maintain that secure connection. You don’t want to lose your hard-earned health either! Practice SRI and get in for regular Network Care to maintain the most important connection for your health.