Everyone knows when they are lonely. But do we know, do we allow ourselves to feel when we are connected? I’ve developed all the automatic loneliness-implying labels to define myself “I’m single”, “I live alone”, “I work alone”, “I moved to the least populated state in America”. It’s only recently that I’ve begun to consider that– all of these things could be accurate, yet I could still be more connected than I’ve ever been before.

Once I decided to make my life all about pursuing fulfillment, I realized that’s all anyone else is trying to do too, in their own ways. In Buddhism we say that which ties us together is compassion. In yoga we might say it’s the acceptance of everything as it actually is. But maybe I’d add that what truly allows us to connect is a willingness to abandon the stories we’ve written about ourselves. To be vastly open. To find through vulnerability the sameness that exists deep down in all of us– a propensity for mistakes and a hope to be loved, found of value, considered on our path despite of it.

This past Saturday I turned 32, and in my journal I wrote down one thing I’m calling in– to feel supported and connected every day, if by nothing else than the universe itself.

Moment of Gratitude: But maybe every day this already comes true. Maybe all it takes is the belief that we could be connected, that we already are.