From Rose – “In a time of COVID, loneliness is one of the most prevalent emotions … . Recently, I melded the two worlds together and now my online friends are friends with my school friends, and to see the possibilities of the internet and create a community of my friends during this time brought a lot of security and strength to me.”
Sia – Together (The Tonight Show: At Home Edition) (2:00)
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2:41)
A Lawson Native American Wood Flute Meditation (9;25)
How have you felt strength and security from the company of others, lately?
A Bundle of Sticks
“A certain Father had a family of Sons, who were forever quarreling among themselves. No words he could say did the least good, so he cast about in his mind for some very striking example that should make them see that discord would lead them to misfortune.
One day when the quarreling had been much more violent than usual and each of the Sons was moping in a surly manner, he asked one of them to bring him a bundle of sticks. Then handing the bundle to each of his Sons, in turn, he told them to try to break it. But although each one tried his best, none was able to do so.
The Father then untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his Sons to break one by one. This they did very easily.
“My Sons,” said the Father, “do you not see how certain it is that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to injure you? But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle.” (https://fablesofaesop.com/the-father-his-sons-and-the-bundle-of-sticks.html)
Change Your Algorithm is a mental wellness program that believes in the power of community. How have you found healing in yours?
In a time of COVID, loneliness is one of the most prevalent emotions because if you don’t have any loved ones, family, nor friends who live with you, your ability to see them and interact with them is under strict regulations. This provides problems on so many different levels because as social creatures, we need to see and interact with others from time to time, and that is the beauty of the internet. I already had a plethora of friends who strictly lived online for me, but those who went to my school began to use the internet based apps like Discord so we can talk and chat on a regular basis again. Recently, I melded the two worlds together and now my online friends are friends with my school friends, and to see the possibilities of the internet and create a community of my friends during this time brought a lot of security and strength to me. I now have a huge melting pot of people who I love and care for and who love and care about me fight at my fingertips, and while I will admit I used to very selective of who i’d introduce my friends to, however, it is now more important than ever for people to have large communities where all can feel safe and loved, which I am proud to provide not only for myself but all my friends.
Sometimes I sit in a meeting and find I am unable to listen. My mind becomes very busy comparing myself to the speaker, thinking of outside issues, coming up with advice for others. If I can catch myself doing this, I work to bring my mind back to the present and listen especially hard for the lessons I am trying to avoid.