The need for human connection

I recently saw an image of masses of humans with zoned out looks on their faces walking while staring at their phones. While robots of all kinds were sitting on benches learning and drawing.

The sad irony of this was not lost on me. We humans are teaching artificials how to think. While we humans give up thinking and rely on quick click answers to everything. Ai is getting smarter. We are not.

We are losing our ability to connect in real time with real people.

Where did looking each other in the eyes go?

Where did polite conversations out in public go?

How is it possible that I buy something in a store and I am the one thanking the clerk to either a non-response or “of course” as if he were entitled to my thanks?

I had the utter joy of having a rare and beautiful connection while hiking this weekend. Two women and a dog were standing on the roots of a 250-year-old elm tree looking up in adoration.

I said to them, “isn’t Grandmother glorious?”

Thus began a lovely conversation about the park, trees, nature, and the lack of human interaction. We all looked each other in the eyes and commented on how rare that is anymore. We talked about our search for community and connection and how it seems elusive.

They asked for my phone number to continue our conversation and expand our connection. I could not recall the last time that happened.

After we exchanged phone numbers, Colleen asked if she could hug me.

I nearly wept with gratitude.

I thanked her for asking and commented on the lack of affection in our disconnected world. The embrace was strong and heart connecting.

Michelle’s hug was even tighter, heart to heart.

As we said our goodbyes and promises of getting together soon, the collective shift in all of us was palpable. We were not the same people we were minutes before. We each had given and received the ultimate gift ~ open human connection.

As I continued down the trail alone, it hit me once again how utterly strange it is that I have lived here for three years and have not made one local friend.

I am out walking or hiking every day and speak to every single person I meet. Sometimes, people pass right next to me on a trail, and I say hello to them and am not even honored with a grunt.

There is so much talk about community and the desire to belong, yet so little actually happens in the realms of connecting even in the small moments. Like those on a trail or in a store.

There is magic in connecting. Our cells need it to thrive and generate health and healing. I hear people talk about ‘connecting’ with chat GPT.

One person shared that Chat GPT sees who she is while she struggles to feel seen in her life.

Chat GPT only catalogs and repeats information.

It does not see. It does not feel. It learns from humans and repeats our words.

You could experience a more loving conversation with yourself gazing at your own reflection in a mirror.

I would like to issue an invitation.

How can we create moments of human connection in our day to day?

Especially with strangers.

When we humans embrace the opportunities to expand our humanness, we elevate our species.

We expand heart intelligence, real intelligence.

There is a place for technology.

There is a primal need for human connection.

Please do not confuse the two.

Ai is never going to ever hug you heart to heart.

It will never shed a tear with you.

It will never hold your hand.

I will.