People need people
on a deep, human level
Today I want to share a story with you about presence, connection and our very deep, human need to feel seen and heard by other people.
It happened today around lunchtime.
We had our Monday-Shared-Silence Session in the park. The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining from a blue sky, birds were around, people were eating, chatting & enjoying the sun.
It was four of us, two each sitting on a picnic blanket, I brought my dog & she was playing with her tennis ball.
As usual, our sign and arrow were present, so that any stranger could join us.
At some point, my friend tapped on me & made me look into a certain direction, indicating that a person was circling around & checking our sign, but he never joined. Who knows, maybe next time :).
Then I suddenly saw a dance acquaintance of mine, an older gentleman who is always happy & smily, same this time too. He was looking at me, waving and starting to come towards us.
My friend that shared the blanket with me moved to the other blanket, since he realized we know each other. So Emil came & sat down, smiling all over his face, happy to see me & asking how everything is going!
I smiled at him as well & said that we still have a bit of our silent hour left, that he could join and we could have a chat afterwards. I know he knows about it, since he saw me posting it on my social media.
He answered, that he is just on his way home, and then suddenly, he broke out in tears, crying, he lifted his sunglasses and shared that he just had a big operation, where they removed an almost tennisball-sized tumor from his neck (I noticed the plaster he had).
He said that he just wanted to share this, to let it out & that it was so difficult for him & I immediately came closer & gave him a hug & listened and talked to him. No matter our silent session. The three others were sitting close to us, being present too.
We had a short chat about it, exchanged words of consoling, caring, he shared his fears, emotions and struggles of this situation and we agreed that it is so important to let those things out of our system.
And then he continued home and we sat for 10 more minutes in silence.
It was a very moving moment, very beautiful, vulnerable and deeply connecting.
Something similar happend last week, where another friend of mine who knows about these sessions, joined and we spoke about death, his mom passing away recently & him now not having any parents & an older, disabled sister living far away. It was a very vulnerable moment too.
We need THIS. All of us.
We humans need other humans. The presence of another soul. Just being there and witnessing us, seeing us, listening to us and connecting.
In a world were everything moves so fast, stress is chronic, depression is everywhere, disconnection & technology are driving us crazy, we need this! What happened today!
It is crucial for our life, surviving and thriving.
So, this means: never underestimate your being, your presence, your sitting somewhere, smiling at someone, creating a place to do something together, or just sitting in silence.
Your whole being, the person you are is so powerful! Beyond what you can imagine! You mean a lot to many people, more than you might think! Whether it is family members, friends, acquaintances, strangers, work colleagues, partners, siblings, grandparents, animals: YOU ARE IMPORTANT!
We never know what others go through. Sometimes it just needs to be said out loud, shared, being witnessed and thats it.
Today humbled me, it made me feel very grateful and thankful & honored and I will keep on going and sitting in silence every Monday.
No matter if it is fully silent, or with small chats in between.
What is important is, to create space for human-ness and connection. Always & forever!
Thank you all for reading this & thank you to all of those amazing souls that participated!!
Love,
Daria