Do You Belong?
Posted by LeeAnn on August 16th, 2010 at 08:00am
In reading the book The Trance of Scarcity: Stop Holding Your Breath and Start Living Your Life
I have been working a gelding that has never been part of a horse herd. He is completely unskilled in herd behavior and nuance. Right now he is in a corral with two mules that are kindly showing him the ropes of being part of the herd. They are also showing him how to be grounded and giving him a sense of safety.
It is odd to think of a horse having to learn to be part of a herd; yet in these modern times horses and humans have often grown up in unnatural settings. Socialization is necessary for a sense of belonging. I sometimes worry about the current generation. They seem to belong to the world of texting and Facebook, but are not so skilled at face-to-face human interaction.
Do you feel like you belong? Do you have a “herd” that you play in and with? If so what creates a sense of belonging?
“Connectedness is an organizing principle of the universe.” David Bohm
I believe we are moving from a culture of fierce independence to interdependence. In order for us to become interdependent with consciousness we must embrace a sense of belonging. In my mind, being a part of or belonging also brings with it a sense of responsibility and accountability.
It is a curious time – I for one take a stand for fully belonging to this human experience and accept all the rights and the responsibilities that go along with it! How about you?
Happy Trails,
The Divine Cowgirl
(photo credit: Eduardo Amorim)
Under Relationship+ With others
4 Comments for Do You Belong?
1. Karen | August 16th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
This is something I am working on as I moved to an area where I only knew one person. That was 6 years ago. I came here with my son who was medically fragile and so did not have the energy to go out much. We would go occasionally to a jazz club or take a little drive and we joined a church. We did almost everything together and enjoyed each others company immensely. Now he has passed away and I spend much time alone, often sitting at church in the pew alone or with friends who are still simply acquaintances. This is the time of year that our church organizes into covenant groups, small groups who gather with a common interest. I am going to look into that. I would like to join choir but an evening job interferes.
I have felt a great sense of belonging and support through facebook but it is mostly with friends from the home I left. I plan to stay in this home for now so I am beginning to branch out socially. I have always found friends along the way through school or bonding during my time working in music and theater but it is not happening so naturally at this time and place. This is the first time in my life that I am taking action toward finding connections and seeking friendships that I want to nourish. A few are beginning now. We’ll see how it goes. This is all a new adventure and the world and my social circles are all mine to cultivate.
I agree that we do innately need to feel connected and the best way is to take conscious responsibility as an individual in choosing those with resonance and collectively in making our alliances something that magnify and create more of what we wish to see in the world. It is a beautiful thing to feel needed and a truly loving heart opens in recognizing and honoring our own needs in allowing the generosity of others to reflect and teach us.
2. Kathy Salazar | August 16th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
I love to be thought of as part of, but I think I’m on my own in many ways. I feel the urgency of my mission, I make friends and if they want to continue to be friends they do. And if they need to move on they do. We all have sort of a procedural dance that we seem to want to do with one another and its kind of interesting to reflect back on some of those dances..some that are no more and some that still are.
LeeAnn you and I still are, and sometimes I wonder why and then I hear-just let it be Kathy, and I do..Weird huh?
3. Glad | August 17th, 2010 at 10:11 am
OMG! I’m reading “The Trance of Scarcity”, too. I love it. I love when things like this happen: it’s like a confirmation that I’m on the right track and seeking in the right direction.
4. LeeAnn | August 17th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
I love the book .. and have been working it with a learning partner.. I am certainly ready to wake up from my trance!! Happy travels!
LeeAnn
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