Our lock down is officially over in Victoria, Australia. The only thing we have to do is wear masks in public places. Over the seven month period I went over a mental health period including a psych unit visit, a beautiful relationship, sadly no longer and for the final month and a half anxiety as I live alone.

But now we can dance together, hang out in public parks and have more than one family member in our homes.But the length of time has not made it an easy task, we Melbournians are so used to being at home and 5 kilometers that exploring the world and people again isn’t that easy. How do you get back in connection with your dance crews, the people you picnic with and your beloved families, if in fact they are for you.

So here are some questions to make you think about returning to the fold:

1. What does the child inside yourself long for?
2. What is one thing right NOW that you are totally sure of?
3. What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?
4. What’s the BIGGEST motivator in your life right now?
5. What are you MOST grateful for?
6. What have you been COUNTING or keeping track of recently?
7. What’s the difference between being ALIVE and truly living?
8. If you had the OPPORTUNITY to get message across to a large group of people , what would your message be?
9. Have you DONE anything lately worth remembering?
10. When is the LAST time you tried something new?

To me the difference between being alive and truly living is connection, the company of good people, a sense of community. I luckily belong to the conscious community of our city, we dance, workshop, party and care for each other. So what has the world community said about connection over the time of the human race, lets have a look:

1. What is the algorithm of deep connection, perhaps less screen time.

2. We had to have some Brene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw

3. Also known as the self gratification generation.

4. An icon as nearly well known as several of the POTUS’s, love the last line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTqFxMxfzkA

5. And we all are starseed.

6. More money is not the answer of the wife of the richest man in America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5yaoMjaAmE

7. Grieving for Grief: Joanne Cacciatore is Associate Professor at Arizona State University. She writes about and researches traumatic grief, and trains providers in “green” mental health care. Her latest book, is used by grief therapists worldwide.

8. Why prisons use solitary confinement as their ultimate punishment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRq_Cxzpm6c

9. Some of my most connected moments have been spent in silence.

10. Power to the People!!!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Epue9X8bpc

11. Put it down!!!

12. Tom thinks history is made up of connection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcOt6mfjxeA

13. Time to turn a life around, do it now.

15. Miss Congeniality calls it out.

Quite a lot of differing views in the quotes today, but several comments about the affect of technology on connection, unfortunately I can only seeing it getting worse in big cities like the one I live in, perhaps it is time to return to the bush land of my birth.

Today’s playlist has spoken word and film themes and TV series themes on the eclectic offering. We begin with Brene Brown, Followed by Mr Rogers. Then we return to the current day with Christina Perri and Nights. Back to last century with John Lennon and Alan Silvestri , and we complete with Des’ree: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJlQ3F9bKYrvD5CGR87SdQ1HRGOST3ne_

So in the last two weeks I have been to two ecstatic dances and a hangout in the Edinburgh Gardens with my friend Ariane, It was great, so small steps taken. I believe if I strongly follow my ethos for life: Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included I will enter my community more and more. And if I grow my Facebook group, Thriving People – People who wish to make a difference to Humankind, join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1126100227764949.

Until we meet again, my dear friends.