“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.” ~Herman Melville
Connection is the beginning. Look around. Who do you see? Who have you stumbled upon in your life’s path?
No matter how much we crave solitude we still need relationships. At the same time we desire to feel we belong. It is in the midst of belonging we also find a sense of self.
When we cultivate these relationships with love and compassion they grow roots and blossom into lasting friendships. These are the people with whom we not only swap stories but share our lives. We laugh and cry together. Our heartbeats surge, slow, and steady with the rhythm of one another. We feel the rise and fall of the breath of life. We stumble together as we climb the mountain. We pick one another up when we fall. And when we reach the mountaintop we scream together and listen as the echo of life harmonizes with us.
Love makes connection fulfilling, sacred. The giving and receiving of love is a life in process. This connection of love completes us.
“When we get too caught up in the business of the world, we lose connection with one another and ourselves.” ~Jack Kornfield
Spot on post, Suzi!
“It is in the midst of belonging we also find a sense of self.”
I agree, because in the midst of belonging we ‘reflect’ ourselves.
And I love this quote….
“When we get too caught up in the business of the world, we lose connection with one another and ourselves.” ~Jack Kornfield”
This really strikes a cord in how technology in certain ways has disconnected us from one another. There is no longer that physical ‘eye to eye’ contact or connection.
Great photo! Perfect for this post!
Thanks for sharing, my friend….X
Technology might connect us in some ways, but it certainly distances us in others.
Another lovely post, Suzi — we all need connections interspersed with our “me times.” Without one or the other, we’re just not whole. Thanks for pointing this out!
Yes, we all do need one another. We can do some things on our own, but some things take the power of many.
So timely for me! I’m having drinks tonight with a friend who I have definitely stumbled with as we’ve climbed the mountain!
Yay, those are the best kinds of friends. I hope you have fun!
This photo is perfect because most of my friends are pretty rocky.
I was trying to convey how all the aimless rocks thrown together create a walkway…hence alone we’re have limited power but connected we can do great things.
I’ve kinda missed out on that sort of friendship because I’ve moved so many times in my life. Every time I made a close friend, off I went again…
They take time to nurture…I only have a few of them myself.
Connection and love. Simple. And I believe the true essence of what really nourishes us.
Absolutely, Rudri.
Hey, I love your phrases!
in the midst of belonging…
cultivate relationships…
lasting friendship…
laugh and cry together…
rhythm of one another…
rise and fall of the breath of life…
stumble together…
life in process…
I surely agree. People need one another. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are connected.
Thank you. I am a person who not only enjoys but craves my time alone. I forget how much I need connection until I am with “my people” and being fed and rejuvenated. We forget how much we give to others and receive in return.
I am also an introvert.
Though I love people, I still need (every now and then) time for myself to regain my energy. 
Good thoughts. I recharge alone . . . but being ALONE in the world would be a dismal prospect, indeed.
ONE is the loneliest number.
I also recharge alone, but I do admit people energize me, especially family.
It’s amazing how many people cross our path in a lifetime.
Yes, it is.
Beautiful post. We are both social and spiritual animals, we need both to be complete.
Yes, we are and yes, we do.
What a beautiful sentiment and perfect photograph. Solitude and social interaction and connection are both sides of the coin of life, aren’t they?
I suppose they are both sides of the coin, I like that.
We were most definitely created for relationships…of all kinds. These are beautiful words. Where do you find these quotes? They’re fantastic.
I google what I’m looking for and it sends me all over the place, lol.
A lovely post, as always! Without the people in our lives, and the relationships we forge, life would hold little meaning. Thanks for the reminder.
It certainly does give life meaning.
I agree that we need relationships. For me, I do prefer alone time, so relationships can be a lot of work, especially the psyching myself up to make a phone call
They can be a lot of work but most are well worth it. Personally, I only maintain a few very close friendships but I treasure them.
I love your first photograph.
Thanks, Christine.
I truly love the connection of people. It is a beautiful thing.
It sure is.