Connecting with Each Other - The Re-Generation - Blog 1

​This is the first of blogs in this section of the Re-Generation Magazine and as the headline suggests, in this section the focus will centre on the social aspect of connection.This is likely my favourite of the 3 areas of re-connecting that we will discuss in The Re-Generation, but just like Connecting with Nature and Connecting with The Self, it seems our ability to have meaningful interactions with one another has quietly become impaired especially over the last couple of decades or so. More people are feeling isolated, we have less time with our loved ones and the time we do have is often spent in less than optimal ways. Living in an urban setting can make things even worse due to spending so much time in traffic and having long work days away from family. Something surely has to give.

Back when I worked as Procurement Manager for a large firm, I can remember days when it took priority to such an extent that even when my family and I were on a day trip out of town I would be called in when something went awry. I was expected to be there and after all that is what they paid me manager’s wages for, right? This is the story would tell myself in order to justify another sacrifice of time away from loved ones. This is what ‘pays the bills”, and “we would never be able to take trips like this without my job”, is what I’d say.

​But honestly, what kind of a trip was it if it had to end at a moment’s notice?

This is a small example of what so many of us have to contend with every day. The precious moments and everything we work for have been diminishing for a while. But things are starting to change.

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​In this blog, we hope to take a look at how we might accomplish positive change in the relationships we share with both the people closest to us, as well as those we encounter only occasionally. We will explore positive changes that are happening in neighborhoods and urban communities worldwide. We will begin with challenging the fears which we all too often cling to in modern urban settings as well as confront the repeated patterns and messages we hear and tell ourselves daily. We will tune in to the social dynamics around us in the hopes of creating meaningful and resilient connections in the process. More specifically, we will examine examples of community building, place-making, mindfulness in social settings and the exciting and beautiful effects that these and many other movements are beginning to have for the longevity of our culture. On that note, I hope you get something out of this blog and enjoy it in the process. Peace!

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