With so many huge problems in our world, it can often seem “less important” to:
- Connect with someone new,
- Visit a neighbor,
- Host or attend a simple social event,
- Take time to smile or greet a stranger, where appropriate,
- Perform a random act of kindness, either alone or with others,
- Reconnect with an old friend you haven’t touched based with in years,
- Write a thoughtful, uplifting handwritten note,
- Reach out to those who are lonely, or
- Join or start a small group gathering of any kind.
For most of my life, these were the kind of activities I frequently set aside for urgent matters that, at the time, seemed more important. I was wrong. It took many decades for me to begin to understand the following truth more fully:
Relationships are foundational to virtually everything.
In his book, Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, Dr. Vivek Murthy emphasizes the societal value of the connections we make and keep. He reminds us (see opening quote) that those steps we take to help bring people together are necessary for successfully addressing the other major problems of our day.
How might our world begin to change if each of us took time this week to begin one new relationship-oriented endeavor? It might profoundly change us, as well as the people we interact with. And it might prove contagious.
The old song lyrics, “What the world needs now is love sweet love,” rings especially true today.
You are invited to report back on your efforts in the comment section below.
Patrick Klingaman
The Regathering Project: Let's Transform the World, One Relationship at a Time 