Threads of Connection: Becoming Benevolent Future Ancestors

A Strong Connection is a Stable Foundation

I have discussed the use of sewing as a way to connect to our ancestors pretty frequently over the last couple of years. Having a strong connection and tender relationship with those who came before me is nourishing in my daily life. It helps me to find my identity within the context of my family and regional heritage. This waypoint or initial orientation leads me to understanding my role here on Earth at this time. Perhaps connecting to your own ancestors in this way can do the same for you?

Perhaps most importantly, this thread of connection formed through hand-making can weave a timeless and meaningful sense of belonging, or mend where that sense has frayed. There is perhaps no more beautiful expression of ancestral connection than making, be it home goods, clothing, food and drink, or art of any kind.

What I haven't discussed as much is what comes next. I believe we are here, now, as a bridge between the past and the future. As humans, I mean. All of us. We will likely become ancestors.

When asked what I believe in, I'll tell you every time that I only believe anything about 70%. So, my answer will always be partial. I don't think there's one path or one answer. However, I do believe with all my heart that we need to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with our environment and with each other in order to survive and become ancestors. We must learn from those who came before us, but we must also find new ways, rooted in kindness and connection, to move forward as humanity.

Earth Will be Here, but Will We?

This might be controversial, but I’m going to say it anyway: I don't think we're in danger of destroying the Earth. The planet was here before us, and she will exist long after we're gone. I do believe we're in danger of losing ourselves. We're in a worldwide crisis of apathy, and we're exhausted as a whole. How do we shake ourselves out of it? I wish I knew. I don't think more information coming at us from all sides is the way. I'm not advocating willful ignorance, of course, but I am wondering what we do with information once we have it? Is some of our apathy a condition of overload? Saturation? Is filling our heads with information really helping us if we never use it? (I'm talking to myself as much as anyone reading this.)

In schools, we are moving away from the humanities, away from any subjects that aren't science and math related. What happens if we never integrate that knowledge into understanding? Do we ever get to Wisdom? Making meaning, or finding a sense of purpose, is crucial to human life. I don't see us looking for it within, and I don't believe it lives outside of us. Meaning lives in the connective tissues of community.

Maybe we need to slow down more, to rest, and find a way to truly come together and listen to one another without trying to "fix" each other. We are so focused on ourselves that we are out of balance. Sometimes we may retreat to protect ourselves or to survive - but living exclusively in survival mode can be damaging to our nervous systems. I know this from experience; it's not only hurtful to our nervous systems, but also to our dreams and relationships. When we cannot pay attention to anything beyond the tip of our noses, we cannot be good partners or friends, and we begin to atrophy in ways that make us less of who we are.

There is connection, community, and the opportunity for mutual benefit all around us, if we are willing to open our eyes and see from a different perspective. To do this, we must learn to engage more with one another, for human life is not only about survival; it is also about fostering community and mutual support. We are all missing out on opportunities to exchange ideas and traditions, collaborate, and innovate in ways that can make sense of the vast amount of information instantly available to us. In our modern, individualistic lifestyles, we are losing sight of the bigger picture. We are too often caught up in our own thoughts and worries, forgetting that we are part of a larger system in which our individual actions have an effect on the collective whole. I think as humans, we’re losing the plot.

Sewing = Seeing?

A typo full of insight courtesy of autocorrect. Not sure why tech devices repeatedly turn sew to see as I type, but I'm beginning to think it's a lesson for me. Will learning how to sew change the trajectory of humanity? No. Not by itself. It is merely one way of many to learn how to see differently, to experience the world around you differently. Stitching two pieces of fabric together can literally help you feel more connected and stoke the creative spark inside you. Making something with your hands brings you into your body. It's grounding. Creating something from an idea or a dream with a handful of materials is a delight. It feels like magic. It is magic, and it's human.

Making in community can refuel us, help us find each other, and bring more beauty, love, and wellbeing into our lives. This, in turn, leaks out into the world around us. We couldn't keep it to ourselves if we tried. How many times have you said something casually, smiled at a stranger, or taught something you've learned, only to find out later that your accidental shared sparkle had a life-changing impact on someone? It happens more than you know. That's a direct effect of your presence.

Practice Makes Practice

Presence is a practice.

Consciousness is a practice.

Listening is a practice.

Connection is a practice.

Creativity is a practice.

Making is a practice.

Choosing love is a practice.

All these practices, from creative endeavors to intentional rest, are ways we can turn ourselves away from exhausted apathy toward connection. Creative practices are not only enjoyable, but they also build our capacity for imagination and fortify our resilience. Taking time for rest and integration is also essential to our wellbeing, allowing us to take a step back and process the world around us. With our minds and souls refreshed, we are better equipped to reach out to communities, both familiar and new, to draw from the strength and wisdom of generations past. Only then can we use these threads to stitch together a new vision for the future, one that we can create and live in together. Taking time to nourish ourselves and our communities is the only way to make change happen. We have to do it ourselves.

It's high time to draw up a new map to guide us from our current situation to the world we wish to create, while we still have a choice. Our actions, feelings, and connections today will shape the world that our future generations will inherit; it is up to us to ensure that it is one of mutual prosperity and connection. Practicing creativity in the present equips us to build the future. We can make a difference in this lifetime and leave a legacy of hope and possibility. No matter how old you are, whether or not you know where you came from, it’s time to practice becoming a benevolent future ancestor.