Connections: The Chain That Binds Us
“Connection” is a word so loosely used within our vocabulary. It serves a general definition, something which relates something to another thing. Simple. Wrong. One could argue that the term connection has a new and unique meaning depending on who you ask. To shorten this claim down to my own understanding of this concept, I’ll provide a definition as the article expands. The recurring theme of connection will shape the following argument. Subsequently, the definition that follows this introduction will work as an engine in the form of a thesis for this article.
Connection: An ever binding notion, that even in cases of subconsciousness, guides us all, paving the way to be one with Earth and all its creations.
Connection fluctuates from person to person. To simplify, I’ll be using the general idea of three different people. One being an extroverted person with twenty or more friends. Person number two is someone who lives fairly introverted life with few friends and family. Finally number three being someone who has little to no connection to friends or family.
Person one: This person lives an extroverted life, attending parties and other social gatherings quite frequently. He has lots of friends that do the same. At first glance, you would see this person to have great connection awareness and translates an appreciation for these connections. But with so many people to attend to, how can he have an understanding of each connection he has?Unless he has spent enough time with each person individually, the connections will not be strong. According to a study from the Journal of Social and Personal relationships, it takes 50 hours of time with someone to consider them even a casual friend and 90 hours to consider them a close friend. With that stated, it would be close to impossible to get 90 hours spent with each of his twenty odd friends. Although person one has many connections, he does not have any strong ones.
Person two: is a person that lives a more introverted life. He has his immediate family, and approximately five friends. Already you can begin to see how much easier it would be to spend the 90 hours required to become close friends. So anyone can see that he has far stronger connections than person one. But he only has a small amount of people to connect with. He avoids building new connections because he is ‘content’ with the ones he has. So quality or quantity, which is better?
Person three: This is our most controversial character of the article. He lives in a cabin in the woods on a lake. He has no family, and no friends. However, he uses only natural light, doesn’t smoke or drink, and he eats only vegetables that he has grown, posing no impact on the nature around him. He is very content with himself, he rises early to see the sunrise and meditates by the bank of the lake. Although this person has no human contact, he is connected to nature, far more than person one and two.
If you ask yourself, out of these three characters described, who is most connected?
Referring back to my definition of connection, you must be connected to the Earth and all its creations. Person one has weak connections with lots of people, person two has strong connections with a few people, and person three has only a connection to nature.
You may have your own preference for which of these three you want to be. It once again depends on who you ask. However, each of these characters are as bad as each other. They each hold their own pros and cons. None of which has a balance of all three elements of connection, strength of connection, quantity of connection and connection to nature. You should have connections with many people, providing you have an understanding of strong connections through closer friends and family. Then, to incorporate nature. Just going outside to be one. It is an important balance required to be completely connected. Through my own recent personal experiences, I have discovered just how important connections are. I felt I was not displaying enough gratitude for the most important people in my life. Without these connections I would not be the person I am today. Through this experience, I have begun to show the appreciation I have for connection. It is a moment that everyone will have. It’s a matter of when, not if.
