The inspiration from this blog came from a conversation I had with a woman at a local cafe.
We were discussing my journey of healing naturally from breast cancer and how I had the confidence to choose this path. I explained that my gift in strange wrapping paper has been a chance for me to reconnect and truly get to know myself, for the first time!
As I explained the feelings of isolation, lack of support in many areas; I commented that it is a shame we are all so disconnected.
“Disconnected from what?” I was asked. There in the question lies the answer!
Perhaps our hearts, our planet, our spirits, our bodies, our food, our health, each other!
Because it sure as hell isn’t Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Digg, Reddit, TumbleUpon, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, Foursquare or Zoosk….
All the marketing these days points to keeping up with friends, what happened to catching up with friends?
Recent research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that children spend less than 2 hours in active play on weekends and 4 hours in front of screens
In Germany the U.S and UK up to 39% of the populations spend more time on social networks than they do face to face.
According to the Public Relations Institute of Australia
- 13 million Australians spend over 18 hours a day online
- One in five minutes (3.6 hours) a day is spent on social media.
A report commissioned in May 2012 ahead of National Tree Day by Planet Ark found that one in four Australian children had never bush walked, climbed a tree and 11 per cent had never been to a zoo.
When I go for my morning and weekend walks, the parks are virtually empty. Where is everybody?
As an only child I am familiar with being alone, however I live in a city with another 4,172,931 people. Is there anybody out there?
The park I frequent is 100 acres (40 hectares) and is home to some of the most beautiful trees Oaks, Elm, Moreton Bay Figs.
Hugging Trees
As a child you could not keep me out of a tree or the park. So after a good 25 disconnected years that lead to cancer, I have reconnected to the magic and wonder of trees.
Dancing Trees
The healing process has not only enabled me to connect with my authentic self but also my organic self.
Growing our own food is an adventure. Well it was when I was young! The planting of tomatoes or beans from seed, then running outside everyday (more like every 5 minutes) in anticipation of a little sprout popping up through the soil to reach the sun.
For the young ones now however, there are i phone apps that enable one to grow a virtual garden right before your very eyes!
For those inner city dwellers the no spaces excuses can be overcome indoors or on balconies with such things as Vertical Gardens Custom built herb or vegetable gardens. There are no shortage of ways to engage with your organic self. Just a little imagination or inner child.
It seems I am not alone in my thinking. Edible Landscaper and Author from Northern California Rosalind Creasy says
‘My single most important goal is to get the cook to feel connected to the earth by growing something….We have a whole nation of farmers who haven’t tasted a thing they’ve grown, and a whole nation of cooks who haven’t grown a thing they’ve eaten.’
My work now is dedicated to reconnecting clients to themselves, each other and nature. And… putting the fun back into food.
What are you connected to?
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Great article Helen, very timely and well-written. It is almost self-evident but so few seem to ‘get it’. Keep doing what you are doing.
So beautifully written Helen, and I couldn’t agree more. A timely reminder for all of us to connect with ourselves, and nature, and others, and the things we put into our bodies…. And these things are all interconnected anyway. Thanks for your inspiration!
What a great article Helen. I love it.