Stronger Together: Not all traditions are bad!

The face and composition of 'communities' is in desperate need
of changing. People are more isolated than ever, absorbed into
electronic devices or running from one task to the next so there's 
no time for connection. Families within the same house tend not
to spend quality time together. We've all become independent 
islands amidst an ocean of other islands.

But the seeds of change are being nurtured.

Interest is there for a different way of doing things. People are
tired of the disconnect. Tired of feeling like a stranger in their 
own physical location for whatever reason that might be. (For
me, it's about not fitting in with the area I live either politically,
spiritually, sexually, culturally, etc.)

We know that we don't trust our government, now more than 
ever. We don't trust big business. We don't even trust the men 
and women who are supposed to be dedicated to preserving law,
order, and justice. 

There's division within the world, the country, the state, the city,
our neighborhoods, our families, and even our own homes. So 
where do we find solace? How do we find grounding in a world 
where gravity seems to have lost its hold?

Communities of choice.

Being mindful and directed enough to seek out and select a
family or community where we surround ourselves with people
we share commonalities with...and not merely our safe old 
stand-by selection processes of 'race,' orientation, gender, 
economic status, and so on. 

The way it stands now...

We are finally at a critical stage in human development where 
we are moving past that. Realizing that our very survival depends
on progression and advancement, not stagnation. The old ways 
don't work any more. We are all in this fight together, and those
who see that and act accordingly are the shapers of tomorrow.

We are coming to realize that the 'independent spirit' of America,
while it has its place, went a bit too far. We humans definitely are
pack animals, and that basic primal need is still in us. Just because
we know we can't trust the people we were told we could (religious
leaders, pillars of the community, politicians, sometimes even our
own families) doesn't mean we have to stop trusting everyone.

There was a time when people in a community had devotion to
one another. Where the idea of 'communal living' was a standard
means of living, not some fearful notion. Life is tremendously hard, 
and in order to survive, we all need people on our side, working 
towards that same mutual goal of survival.

Together we are stronger than we are separately. And as we 
become more and more aware of how ALL of our struggles are
really connected...as we get over the pettiness of splitting hairs 
and focusing on differences...we will see that joining together 
is the only way that all of us outliers and disenfranchised have a 
chance of dealing with those who are out to harm us. Because you
best believe that those folks are working their networking skills
like champs.

***