{"id":14678,"date":"2024-07-10T10:04:49","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T14:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=14678"},"modified":"2024-07-10T10:04:49","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T14:04:49","slug":"the-collective-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=14678","title":{"rendered":"the collective experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

[From Guest Writer #1 in our annual summer series…]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know that moment when someone face lights up in recognition, leans in and starts animatedly talking to someone else? This is the witnessing of someone being seen. Not seen in \u201cyeah, that\u2019s someone I know\u201d, but really<\/em> seen<\/em> on a deeper level. Feeling understood and partnered with. This is the collective \u201cme too\u201d experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We see it at sporting events and concerts, religious and cultural ceremonies. It is the cheer when a touchdown or goal is made, when the beloved band steps out onto the stage or when two moms lock exhausted eyes over their children\u2019s heads at the playground. It is the feeling of being not just seen but understood. I believe we crave it in our deepest well as a human being. We are made for relationship. Made for the connection to something beyond ourselves. It helps us feel a sense of belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why else would people spend exorbitant amounts of money on tickets, merchandise, lodging and transportation just to bear witness to an event? They want to BE THERE. To talk about it, to be a part of the adventure. Whether the thing is a favorite authors book signing or the Super Bowl is irrelevant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe that we are woven throughout our DNA to feel a sense of belonging and it seems that this need is growing even stronger in our desire to catalog and categorize those that are part of US and those that are part of THEM. We seem to have begun to careen down a path of neurosis when someone does not share our particular proclivity toward an event, thought or belief system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When did we stop being curious with each other? Wanting to know more about another person\u2019s experience, culture or belief system? As a society evolves it tends to move toward a greater level of emotional maturity and inclusion but recently this has shifted into a direction of away, apart, against.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do we remember that we all are, first and foremost, human beings of the same species? People who laugh and sneeze and thirst and squint? How do we remember the collective experience to which we already belong? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe we begin by remembering things that seem to ignite the collective experience.  I encourage you to keep this going and share it with others so that we can find commonalities in the everyday. I\u2019ll start. Here goes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The smells of<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hot coffee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gut grass<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gasoline (just me?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top of a baby\u2019s head<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honeysuckle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crayons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sights of<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fireworks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunrises<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunsets<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smiles <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mountain ranges<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waterfalls<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snow falling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sounds of<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belly laughs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wind chimes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jazz music<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thunderstorms<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cI love you\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whistling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheers of an enthusiastic crowd<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Feel of<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fur of a contented pet on your lap<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cool cotton on a hot summer day<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warm towels just out of the dryer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someone stroking your hair<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holding hands<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear hugs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The taste of<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crispy fries straight out of the fryer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hot fudge sundae<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A peach still warm from the sun<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tomato with juice that runs down your chin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flaky pie crust (the edge is best)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are just a few that connect each other to the collective experience. I encourage each of you to share this and ask those around you for more \u201cme too\u201d experiences that we can share and use for connection and well, for love. Which is the whole point of everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[From Guest Writer #1 in our annual summer series…] You know that moment when someone face lights up in recognition, leans in and starts animatedly talking to someone else? This is the witnessing of someone being seen. Not seen in \u201cyeah, that\u2019s someone I know\u201d, but really seen on a deeper level. Feeling understood and … <\/p>\n

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