Connection in a digital world. It’s an interesting concept, isn’t it? All the social networks urge you to connect with others, though how deep that connection really is really varies. For me, connection is about emotion, how those “friends” on Facebook and Twitter and Google+ and all those other places make me feel on a visceral level. I’m happy to say that those friends most often make me feel a wonderful sense of community, that I’m part of something larger than myself. So many of those friends help celebrate highs and sympathize with lows, and it’s hard to imagine life without them.
I almost posted this image last week under “Bliss”, but now I’m glad I waited. This was a blissful moment, but it was also a moment of deep connection: We were returning from a family vacation and were on the verge of purchasing a new home. But then, I’ve had a connection with Seymour from the very beginning, back in the early days of social media.
Seymour and I met online. I know it happens more and more these days, but it’s still a bit akin to meeting someone in a bar, at least around here, anyway. During one of our pre-marriage counseling sessions, the couple who counseled us asked how we met. We smiled nervously at each other, chuckled a bit, and then the older woman said, “Oh, you met in a bar. Well, that’s a lot different nowadays than it used to be…”
“Um, actually, we met online,” one of us replied (I don’t remember which of us, and at this point, it doesn’t really matter).
I felt a connection to Seymour from the first time I read his profile online, and it’s a feeling that’s only grown stronger and deeper as the years have passed. I’m glad I forged this connection, just as I’m glad to have forged connections with other people I’ve met online. Even though we’ve never met in person (not as a group, at least), we are all friends, and nothing illustrated just how strong our connection to each other was more than when we lost one of our own back in January.
Connection, in all its many forms, is a wonderful thing, and one I struggle to hold onto in the rush of my crazy busy life.
What does connection mean to you?
(c) 2014. All rights reserved.
Suddenly they all died. The end. 
Nice. Pretty gutsy too. I don’t think I’m up to posting family pics. To the hands clasped, it really is an “awww” picture.
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Thanks! I really, really like this picture. It’s subtle, yet full of emotion at the same time. 🙂
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It’s so true what you say about making connections online. I have so many people I want to meet in person though (including you!) – but I probably never will. Unless someone organises a sort IndieAuthorCon type event! 🙂
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Right? We’ve been discussing having an Alliance of Worldbuilders conference for some time now, but so far we haven’t been able to make it happen. If it did, it would be utterly awesome, though, and if I ever get to do more traveling outside of Iowa (or the U.S.), I plan to meet some of my internet friends. It would be lovely to meet you all in person! 🙂
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Beautiful. Sometimes, we don’t have the opportunity to meet THE ONE in person. Not right away. But I’m glad you two found each other in a “unconventional” way. I think it’s always important that we remember – on the other end of our computer line, there exists actual people we can reach out to. I think too many people see the internet as this amorphous thing. Seeing people is important. It makes us kinder. It makes us wiser. And it makes us open our hearts to different people. ❤
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Yes. AMEN. I could not agree more. 😀 ❤
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I love this picture, and the story of how you and your husband “connected” is the icing on the cake for me. I had toyed with taking a wedding ring picture but hadn’t done it yet; the fact that you already had this picture says a lot about the value that you place on your relationship with your husband. I’ve got a few other connection ideas now (with a little help from my son)– now to turn those ideas into images . . .
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We took one at our wedding, too, but I don’t even know where that one is – probably in one of our many photo albums with the rest of our wedding pictures. I can’t even remember what possessed me to take this picture, but it’s one of my favorites. 🙂
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Lovely photo – wonderful story. Thanks for sharing. You made my heart smile today.
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Aww! Glad I could make you smile! 🙂
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Connection is the meeting of individuals forming a couple, couple forming a group, and group becoming family. It’s the forever feeling in your heart that fears the lost but embraces being found. It’s risking death to live life surrounded by Love!!!!
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That is the most beautifully perfect description for connection that I have ever read. 🙂
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Awwww….that’s a great compliment. Thanks. I meant every word and believe in every syllable!!!!
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It’s also true. What a beautiful sentiment, and so well-expressed! 🙂
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