Circle of Connection: October 22 - 28

Americans tend to idealize rugged individualism but the separate self is really an illusion. From before we are born until our last breath, we discover and know who we are through our relationships. We are connected to one another and all beings everywhere in ways beyond our wildest imagination.

Practice

Here’s my spin on a metta practice. I envision the most important people in my life. I imagine their faces. I relive the special moments we have shared. I feel them with me in my heart. I experience my connection with them and wish for their wellbeing. I expand the circle to include relatives and friends and colleagues. I send them all loving kindness. I think back on my childhood and remember neighbors, classmates, and teachers. I continue this process, reviewing my entire life, remembering those living and those who have passed. I thank them for the difference they made in my life. My heart swells until gratitude overflows. I realize I am loved and have been loved through every phase of my life.