How to find the magic of ‘we’ in a relationship or community
What is the magic of ‘we?’
Do you know about the magic of we? As a lifelong introvert, it has only been in recent years that I have come to fully experience the mystical nature of ‘we’.
Since the beginning of time, we humans have been searching for ways to connect with one another. We long to feel a part of something larger than ourselves and to experience the magic that comes from being in relationship or community. Yes, even for us introverts. Maybe even more so!
This desire leads us to join religious groups or participate in a political movement, a hobby or interest group. I have been part of all of these with mixed results.
No matter how we find it, the magic of ‘we’ is undeniable. When my sons were born, I felt something I had never known before.
It was the kind of unexplainable joy that comes from the simplest things: a smile, a giggle, a touch. This magic is what makes life worth living. It is the magic of ‘we.’
Begin with the magic of ‘me.’
In today’s society, we are constantly bombarded with messages that tell us we are not good enough. We are not thin enough, rich enough, or popular enough.
These messages can be demoralizing and leave us feeling inadequate. But what if there was another way to look at ourselves?
What if we could see ourselves as the powerful and magical beings that we truly are?
We all have a bit of magic inside of us. I may be able to whistle a tune…a little. You may be an artist with spices and soups. A third may have a smile that brings healing. And yet another knows how to listen.
And the alchemy that happens when all are together in the same room…even a zoom room, results in an energy that has the power to change the world.
I am not thinking about eliminating global climate change or world war. I am talking about the tiny sphere that we as individuals live in.
The space and time of the present moment. When your magic and my magic come together that sphere becomes charged with new life and possibilities.
Like tiny atoms in a large galaxy, we are all part of an infinite web of existence. We are connected by the energy that flows through us and around us. We are all one with the universe.
And the magic of life is in the connections we make.
How does being part of a ‘we’ affect our souls?
Connections with others is the way we connect with our deeper selves.
I lean towards being a hermit and a mystic. I can be happily content to read and pray and consider divine mysteries for days on end. However, I am limited to what I see and hear in my tiny world.
I need your eyes and your understanding to appreciate a larger picture.
I need your flavors and your melodies.
I need your forgiveness and your gratitude.
I need your love.
What you bring to my life is magic. I could write books on forgiveness or generosity or love but they would be empty apart from being part of a ‘we’ that gives me the opportunity to practice them.
We can use our ‘we’ magic to do great things. It is the glue that holds relationships together. ‘We’ is the bridge that connects two people, and it is the light that guides them through life’s darkness.
Magic happens with every ‘we.’
Have you noticed that in any group of people, there is a natural order? Those who lead and those who follow. There are those who are outspoken and those who are shy. There are those who are confident and those who are insecure.
But when there is a ‘we’ this natural order disappears.
When we surrender our rigid independence in order to really listen, share and wonder together we become one entity, with one goal.
We become magical.
‘We’ makes the world a wonderful place. Do you remember having a best friend as a child? Or the loneliness of not having a ‘we’?
From an early age, we search for ways to belong and feel like we matter. We need to feel like we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves. This is what makes the magic of “we” so special.
Where to find a ‘we’ as we age
Throughout life, we have friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors. There may be scouts, clubs, military service, or mission circles.
However, as we age we lose a lot of our connections. People retire, move away, or get buried. What then?
I have found one of the greatest gifts of the pandemic is a growing comfort level in using Zoom.
In my life, a weekly ‘sistah suppuh’ that has been together every Thursday evening for years continues, despite Covid, with its usual laughter and encouragement—all on Zoom. (One benefit…everyone brings their own supper.)
There are an infinite number of classes on everything from how to write to singing together (online), or starting a new business.
Out of the classes emerges a magic that happens when several people continue meeting in small groups or breakout rooms. The magic of ‘we’ in cyberspace!
This coming together as a group and forming a bond creates something extraordinary.
It’s what makes us human. How many of us can say that we truly feel like we belong? How many of us feel like we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves?
The magic of ‘we’ can make that happen.
Have you experienced a special ‘we’ in your life? Leave a comment below to share the magic.
[Photo credits from Unsplash: magician-by-artem-maltsev; woman in mirror by laurenz-kleinheider; atoms-by-ricardo-gomez; eyes-by-sharon-mccutcheon; campfire-by-mike-erskine; zoom-class-by-charlesdeluvio]