Now that the citizens of our world have made radical shifts because of the global pandemic, and adjusted to remote work and social distancing, the ways we used to connect with others may seem distant or even obsolete. We yearn for real connection, deep and meaningful interactions that are based on commonality instead of what we can get from one another. Connections can happen anywhere and can range from the simple to the profound. They are what adds the seasoning to the stew of life. They are the things that can make their day, and make ours, and leave us smiling. And who doesn’t want to smile? Does this mean that it’s easy? That there are no challenges to connecting with different people? Of course not. In our modern world, it’s become normalized to have conflict with those who are different from us. This can make some people skeptical and suspicious when we reach out to them for connection. “What do you want from me?†can be a response. “I’m not going to change for you.†Yet, those are the very situations where connection matters most. True, genuine connection can create commonality from difference. And once that is done, conflict decreases. We may not agree with the other person, but we can step inside their world for awhile. And understand their perspective, and maybe change our own, or at least understand the true source of disagreement. The truth is, it’s easier to change ourselves than our circumstances. And, we can change our circumstances by changing ourselves.
