The Beauty of Interconnectedness
This morning, as I took my usual walk, I was struck by how everything around me was so deeply interconnected. The flowers on the bushes, the trees towering above, even the gentle breeze — they all seemed to be in a perfect dance, a harmony of dependence and connection. The beauty I saw wasn’t isolated; it was woven into everything around it.
As I reflected on this, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to my own life. My children, the greatest joy of my existence, are here because of the connection I share with their mother. And even though our marriage ended painfully in divorce — a process that felt a bit like trying to herd toddlers in a candy store — chaotic, frustrating, and nobody involved seemed to be going in the same direction — and our relationship has been filled with conflict, I can’t deny that without her, I wouldn’t have them. For so long, I’ve harbored anger, resentment, and disdain toward her, holding onto these emotions with the kind of stubbornness that one usually reserves for refusing to ask for directions. But now I’m beginning to realize that, much like the roots of those trees and the flowers needing the bushes, she remains integral to the beauty in my life. Without her, there would be no foundation for the part of my life that I love the most — and, as much as I hate to admit it, that’s a truth that no amount of mental gymnastics can flip out of existence.
But the interconnectedness I’ve begun to see goes deeper than just the people around me — it stretches into my emotions as well. Since the fallout from the divorce, I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression. For a long time, I viewed these emotions as enemies, things I needed to fight and eliminate. But now, inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert’s words in Big Magic, I’m starting to see them differently. She describes how fear and creativity are like conjoined twins — inseparable, born from the same source. Instead of trying to eliminate fear, she suggests making space for it, allowing it to coexist peacefully with creativity
Rather than trying to eliminate negative emotions like fear or anxiety, try this practice: the next time you feel anxious, fearful, or depressed, don’t push it away. Instead, acknowledge its presence — invite it in, much like you would an old friend who always shows up at inconvenient times.
Say something like, “I see you, fear (or anxiety, or sadness). I know you’re here, and that’s okay. You can come along for the ride, but you don’t get to drive. Creativity (or peace, or joy) and I will be the ones making the decisions today.”
By creating space for your emotions instead of resisting them, you might find that they lose some of their power over you. In time, this practice can help you travel more comfortably alongside your emotions, allowing you to keep moving forward, even on uncertain or difficult roads.
This idea resonates deeply with me now. Anxiety and depression, like fear, are not intruders in my life. They are part of the same family of emotions that also brings growth and creativity. I’ve been fighting them, trying to push them out. But maybe what I truly need is to expand my inner space — to allow these emotions to coexist peacefully with the rest of my being. Just as fear and creativity march side by side, I’m learning to let all my emotions have a place without fighting against them.
There is beauty in this interconnectedness, too. The pain, the joy, the fear, and the creativity — they are all bound together, much like everything I saw on my walk this morning. Just as the flowers need the bushes, the bushes need the dirt, and the dirt needs water and sunlight, I’m beginning to understand that I need all these parts of my life — my kids, my ex-wife, my anxieties, and my moments of peace — to truly appreciate the full beauty of my existence.
If this reflection resonated with you, I hope you’ll consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it. We’re all walking different paths, but we’re more connected than we often realize. A shift in perspective, a deeper understanding of our own interconnectedness, could make a difference in someone’s life. Share this with a friend, a family member, or even on your social media — because sometimes, the right words can reach the right person at just the right moment.
