There is so much subtlety to how we show up in loving relationships
My maternal grandmother meant the world to me. She was my favorite person. We had an unspoken bond and I always felt like she understood me.
It isn’t until this moment that I am recognizing it is because we shared moments together that were in alignment with how I like to bond with my community.
Quiet time: she and I would sit together and have coffee together in the morning just the two of us
Spirituality: she thought me prayers at night that we would recite together
Wellness: I love giving her massages when she would complain about her back
Lightheartedness: I loved playing music and dancing for her and she would look so amused and entertained.
Once I moved to the United States from Haiti, we didn’t see each other much. But when we would reunite, it felt so natural for us to connect, just like we always have. She was the only one in my family that I could fall back into that level of ease with.
When the way we naturally bond with members of our community isn't affirmed or is constantly challenged, it is difficult to understand what it will take to feel less alone or isolated in this world. There is so much subtlety to how we show up in loving relationships. If you have one or two connections that stick out in a crowd of missed connections, maybe take some time to meditate a little longer on the particulars of those relationships that help you to feel seen, heard and affirmed.
