Making Connections  Physically • Mentally • Emotionally
by Peggy Sullivan Rosenthal, MEd

    When spring arrives, we start thinking about new growth. We anticipate the first bulbs that push up from the cold earth. We wake up in the morning listening to the birds singing and know it won’t be long until nests are filled with eggs. Many trees will soon flower and all will be filled with green leaves.
    Nature innately knows that, in order for new growth to occur, it has to have a connection to the earth, the sun and the rain.
    Here’s a great, yet simple, example of connection:  If you’ve ever noticed ivy growing on the side of a building, you’ve noticed that it holds on tight. The ivy has made a strong connection to the surface so that it can continue to grow and spread. But once you’ve succeeded in separating the ivy from the wall and pulling it up from the ground, it immediately starts to wilt and die.
    Isn’t that what happens to us, in a sense, when we are not connected? How much can we grow if we don’t connect? Whether you want to grow physically, mentally, emotionally or connect with your spirit, you have to connect to something or someone to start the growth process.

Connecting physically

    You’ve probably heard this saying time and time again, “treat your body like a temple.”  What a great idea!  Your body needs the proper nourishment to grow and maintain itself.  Try the following for a better connection:

•    Consuming healthy whole foods can help you avoid the damage that unhealthy eating can cause.  Your body connects with the right food to keep you free from disease.
•    Staying mindful of a nutritious diet will keep you connected to your body — you’ll be more aware of your body’s need for nutrients and what keeps it healthy.
•    Drink the right amount of water to stay hydrated. Experts recommend 64 ounces of water daily.
•    Exercise. When you move your body, you are making a connection to your body’s ability to shape and tone itself. We weren’t meant to be sedentary all the time. Movement can mean increased energy. Increased energy leads to a better connection, which leads to physical growth.

Connecting mentally

•    Staying mentally alert is important for everyday life. Connecting to your mental well-being can benefit you for years to come.
•    Read a book, fiction or non-fiction—it doesn’t matter. 
•    Start or join a book club to connect with others and discuss what you’ve read.
•    Work a crossword puzzle. Complete a Sudoku. Play Scrabble.
•    Pay attention to the positive world news as well as the good news in your community.
•    Take a class. There are many colleges in the area that offer a wide variety of courses from photography to medieval history.  Find something you’re interested in and learn all you can about it.
•    Volunteer. One of the best ways to connect with your community is to volunteer your time. There are a plenty of opportunities out there. You’ll be mentally engaged while helping others. Nice! 

Connecting emotionally

    To have an emotional connection, you may need to do some emotional housekeeping. Here are several suggestions to help you on your way to creating emotional connection for growth: 

•    Do away with resentment. Go ahead and let it go!  If you resent someone for something they did to you, move on. The only thing the resentment is doing for you is disconnecting you from growth. 
•    Forgive past hurts. This is hard, but it can be done. Forgive, even if you don’t forget. 
•    Be a good listener. This is a simple way to connect to others. 
•    Stop trying to be perfect. No need to “try” to be perfect anymore — you already are!
•    Realize how much your family and friends love you. This may be hard for some of us if we are estranged from our family or don’t have living relatives. Perhaps your family consists of all your friends (your chosen family).  How ever you define family, take a step back and connect to the love they have for you.
•    Re-evaluate your life occasionally to keep a clear focus on where you’re going. Are your values and vision part of the goal that you are trying to reach? Take a close look. Connect once again to the life you want to live.

Connecting to your spirit

    You don’t have to travel to a faraway place to find the way to your inner calm.  You can become more connected with that quiet place inside of you if you try any or all of the following:

•    Get up half an hour earlier than you normally do. If you can watch the sunrise, do so.  Write in a journal, look out the window or just do nothing but savor the quiet moment.
•    Eat in silence. Have nothing in front of you except your plate of food. Taste each mouthful and chew slowly. If you can’t be alone, ask your companions to join in for a few moments of eating without talking.
•    Unplug for a moment. Wherever your day takes you, try to set aside 15 to 20 minutes to be disconnected from the world of cell phones, email, etc. Use this time to do creative work or to just let your mind wander and daydream.
•    Unplug for the whole day. This may be a getaway you can afford! Sit, garden or just putter around. Try to avoid all electronics.  Pay attention to your breathing and ignore the inner demanding voice.
•    Go on a personal, silent retreat. There are many places you that you can go to for a day or a weekend. When you physically remove yourself from your hectic life, you may find it easier to go to a place that expects silence from its guests. 

    Just like the ivy, we need strong connections to survive and thrive. Now that spring is here, it’s a good time to re-connect and continue growing.