By Dr. Jane Guttman
“The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food.” – Dean Ornish
Air, food and water are not enough. We must have the fuel, the nourishment, the compassion of community. John Prine’s song, Hello in There says it poignantly:
“So if you’re walking down the street sometime
And spot some hollow ancient eyes
Please don’t just pass ’em by and stare
As if you didn’t care, say, “Hello in there, hello”
The song has played over and over in my mind for several decades. When I began a tradition of reaching out to persons living with homelessness, I found the words of Dr. Ornish to be infinitely true. It was never enough to hand over food, drink or money. What really mattered over the decades of these encounters was becoming community with each person for the few minutes that we could be together. To greet, listen, share empathy and acknowledge the man or woman standing beside me, ready to nourish body, mind and soul. The communion was indeed primal. Without the gesture of connection, that man or woman would walk away, lost in a flood of isolation, without hope and comfort.
Connection has graced my life in many forms. One of my closest companions was a dog named Tucker. His arrival brought stars to my eyes and a glow to my heart. From the first second I saw him, I knew we belonged together. His presence reminded me of the book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Robert Fulghum. Wisdom was in every word, a primer for connection and community. Tucker and I had a version of cookies and milk, and held hands while crossing streets. Our hearts became one for all of his earth days and each recollection brings me back to the memory of our communion, and the oneness still tendered from across the veil.
With Tucker, connection was natural. We shared a communion in silence and in conversation. Every moment became one more gift of being alive together. Through his devoted heart, I learned that in his presence, I was in community. Tucker was one of my most poignant teachers. I learned that although he loved food, community was deeply dear and essential. He sought out camaraderie in all the days of life together. We became a wellspring of love and oneness in a community that fostered deep peace.
Peace is a vibration in which well-being thrives. Its absence paves the way to a disruption of health.The responses that arise in our bodies when air becomes difficult is bold and clear. For many, the absence of community and connection slips through the cracks of awareness as the tasks of life loom. In loneliness we can experience an increased amount of stress hormones, a compromised immune system. Seniors can experience cognitive decline. Social isolation begets a desperate reality for those in prison settings, including juveniles, who are designated to solitary confinement. Serious mental health responses are documented for even short-term instances of solitary.
Companionship, the feeling of belonging to a human community, the knowledge that others are there for us become a bridge to mental and physical wellness. It is, in essence, a kinship with food, water and air. Altered consciousness, inflammation, dementia, suicidal ideation can occur in social isolation.
Recall a moment when you felt isolated. In that time, all things have potential to become exaggerated in severity. From the stance of community, we can look at the same concern and find it manageable. Think about your community, your tribe, your circle of dear ones. Find ways to reach out to them with regularity, just as you eat and drink and breathe with constancy. Even brief contact counts, like a snack. Something to fortify you in a time of need or in a time of providing compassionate care to you. Especially in stressful times, or unexpected hardship, arrange for contact with others.
A person, a beloved pet, your place of worship, your social media all become avenues to join in a gathering of human union. Put this essential nutrient high on your health list. Invite a friend to lunch… out in the world or in your kitchen. Call an old friend. Call your local school district and see about volunteer work. Contact a senior center and read stories to those who live in loneliness. Have your pet become a certified therapy dog and visit hospitals.
Visits are like veggies. They nourish us generously. They bring the essentials for wellness with every serving. Both are invaluable. Time with loved ones and those that we reach out to in service and companionship welcome the deep and enduring gifts that arise from shared hearts and moments in community. Have generous portions of vegetables for body nutrients and the very same for connection which becomes soul food.
Some of my dearest ones have been adored companion animals. The animal-human connection is sacred. The community that Jane Goodall shared with her beloved chimpanzees stands in tribute to interspecies harmony. The moments we discover with an animal companion often become pure grace. One extraordinary memory is of my dog, Puppie, who curled up under my desk during a year that I wrote a book. She was there for every page and the rewrites. She was truly my co-author. She knew that communion was essential to that project and she just showed up night after night, a quiet source of serenity. Decades later Tucker was my life guide. He walked me to the gate of grace, over and over and over. As Robert Fulghum said, “And it is still true, no matter how old you are-when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.” That we did, Tucker and me.
All guidance is educational and not given as medical advice or treatment., nor is it meant to take the place of qualified medical professionals. Please check with your physician for all medical concerns.
Jane Guttman is a bio-energetic practitioner, workshop presenter, educator, retired holistic chiropractor, Life-Wellness doula, and practices focused hearing. Her practice includes Soul Sound, energetic tapping, writing for wellness, memory release, pet hospice care, and crystal well-being. Her process invites deep reflection, self-love, and well-being; her healing work invites the presence of inner peace, an essential energy to sustain wellness and wholeness. Her work with focused hearing and intuitive guidance have helped many to redirect their lives. Jane’s process has evolved over thirty years of study/practice with the late Dr. M.T. Morter, D.C. and the late Dr. Lucille Edwards, an eminent and recognized metaphysical healer, clairvoyant and energy healer. Jane is committed to assisting people and pets of all ages in attaining wellness goals.
Educational and Related Services: (Non-medical) Crystal Well Being – EFT Tapping – Emotive Memory Release – Energetic Balancing – Intuitive Guidance/Focused Hearing – Pet Well-Being – Sound Healing – Wellness Doula – Writing for Wellness.
Contact Info: Drjane4wellness@gmail.com (909)436-9500