Some days I want to be with people, and other days I enjoy my Alone Time. I assume that we all feel this kind of human tension: we are individuals... but... we are also social beings. It's that daily struggle of wanting to be independent... but... realizing how much of our world requires us to be interdependent. In fact, our survival sometimes rests on accepting this duality of human existence: we are unique... but... we have so much in common.
I liken it to a rubber band that needs to stretch in order to be used or useful... but... in its natural state, it returns to a relaxed state of being.
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| How often do you feel connected or disconnected? (Photo: Clarion Alley Mural Project, San Francisco - Larry Gardepie) |
Is it as simple as some personality assessment tools describe: we tend towards being Extroverted or Introverted -- that is, we gain and move toward energy which supports our external or internal interactions?
I think it may have more to do with the conversion or transformation that takes place in us as we move from:
- Childhood - being dependent on our parents and family; through
- Adulthood - becoming independent by focusing on our own resources and what we contribute, to a state of
- Wisdom and Maturity - understanding that our journey is like a Nurse's Log - as we grow older and decay we provide nourishment to others - we become interdependent.
The whole life cycle is important! No one stage is better than the other... but... it is the awareness that we are here for others that connects each of these stages. We are in this together whether we like it or not!
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| How do you nurture others? (Photo: Nurse Log, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, British Columbia, Canada - Larry Gardepie) |
The elasticity of our lives is dependent on gathering, connecting, structuring, and changing. As Monday Morning Quarterbacks, we can sit back and posture about how our team could have performed better the day before. Criticism or cynicism may feed some of this reflective process... but... what is important is what we learned and how we improved our ways of thinking: that is, what could we have done differently?
So too are our thoughts and opinions about our elected officials or government structures. The elasticity of thought allows us to criticize... but... I would suggest, only if we are willing to engage in fruitful dialogue that improves the state of individual and societal needs. Listening, understanding, accepting, and changing become the ways that we can nourish and nurture future possibilities.
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| What do you think of our political leaders: them or us? (Photo: San Francisco City Hall - Larry Gardepie) |
As we go through this midterm election cycle, it may be prudent for us to reflect on whether our contributions are focused more on individual (self-interests and a specific political party) or social good (what is needed to move beyond). This is not a sports game where the winning or losing statistics are forgotten in a few months. If we are in this together, the long-term game plan must include everyone.
May we consider that we are in this together. May we look toward our common humanity and our daily tensions of stretching and relaxing.
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| Larry Gardepie (click on link for website) |
Thank you Larry for reminding me of one of the aspects of the “seasons of life.”
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