Connection can be one of the most powerful things that human life has to offer. Connection has the ability to bring people together, to support change, and to foster growth. When we connect with people, that is when we feel the most alive.
This week, my focus has been on connecting more with myself and others around me. Finding my rhythm as I fully settle into South Dakota has been a journey. I knew that in uprooting myself, I would have to start over, in all facets of my life: My friends, my artistic community, my co-workers, and the energy of a new place. Being aware of these changes did not make it any easier but instead helped to prepare me mentally and emotionally.
When we make a move, how do we reconnect with ourselves and connect with others?
Our biggest fears in moving are that we have to acclimate to our new surroundings and that we have to make friends. How do we do that if we’ve lived in the same place for years and have had the same friends since childhood? All valid questions that have an easy answer - try. If we never face our fears and instead let them run our lives, we never change. When we put forth an effort and try new things we are amazed at what we can accomplish. And you must remember that you can always move back.
Moving out to South Dakota, I was hellbent on proving people wrong. I have always been one to enjoy surprising people with my actions, opinions, and thoughts. When I decided to move and was riding shotgun in the moving truck, I knew this was the beginning of a new challenge. These kinds of experiences excite and scare me at the same time. But this is what living is all about.
I will be honest, though, I have had my ups and downs with being the only brown face, feeling alone in a sea of people, and feeling stuck. Facing these issues, head on, has helped me reconnect with myself. This energy took me back to high school Dana who was alone, depressed, and sad. Recognizing this connection, sitting with these feelings, and processing through made the fight in me wake back up, preparing me to work through these inner struggles. Not letting my past stifle my future; I pride myself on never having any regrets and always learning from each of my experiences. This outlook has helped me move forward and learn more about myself when things resonate with my past.
If we allow ourselves to be comfortable with vulnerability and openness, our connections will come naturally. We have to fight the desire to shut down and put our walls up. Ultimately, we all strive for human connection. We want to find those solid connections that we keep for life. When we do those make our spirits sing and our energy thrive. Building these strong relationships does not end once we’ve found our crew. There is always room for growth and opening up our arms for other vibrant spirits to join our tribe!
When we reconnect with ourselves, we’re able to connect with those around us. Focusing on working through our past helps us become better versions of ourselves. When we feel confident in who we are, then we can bring other energies into our circle. This can be a difficult step but we have to be willing to be vulnerable and open with others. Before we made those childhood friends, our ride-or-dies, our besties, we had to take that first step into the unknown. Yes, we were a different version of ourselves at that time, but it was still a process. We just didn’t view it as such. At that time, it was easier and we had no hesitations about making friends. Those are the differences between making friends today and previously; We have to remember how to let our concerns go and be open to seeing what could happen.
As we move through the weekend and on our own personal journeys, remember to reach out and connect with those around you. Who knows what you may find, learn, and experience. Take that first step and don’t look back.