It’s a Matter of Life: The Healing Balm of Community
Couch-plopped with phone in hand, an endless scroll on Facebook with its pop-up mind numbing patterns, we all share that moment of looking up and around and wondering, “Where did all the time go?”
Our phones track our “Screentime” or the aptly named “Digital Wellbeing” stats and we’re surprised but are unmoved by the numbers. Staying connected on a little blue-lit screen has tired our eyes, numbed our senses and disconnected us from the faces of others. We crave more, wanting a vivacious life, seeking our purpose to live and work more fully. Our actions from the couch sit in stark contrast to our reality.
Hear this…In a landmark study in 1979 of almost 7,000 adults, researchers found that “people without social or community ties were more than twice as likely to die within nine years even given their unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking, or exercising regularly” (Berkman & Syme, 1979). So, if I do the math right, that’s a study completed 44 years ago. With over four decades passed, researchers proved our people connections and community–matters, all despite the reality of everyone holding these powerful little devices in our hand with thumb-scroll-ready for action today. What does that mean for us now?
It comes down to choice… In the face of Facebook, in the instant of Instagram and in the ticking of TikTok, how might we invite people and community in our lives? As an art therapist, how can we creatively talk the talk and walk the walk?. It’s hard in these days to find your people, to make connections that are deep. How can we be part of the solution? One way is to see a need and ask, how can I get connected?
As part of the art therapist community, I learned about Stars of HOPE, an organization that helps communities heal after natural disasters by painting stars of HOPE. I had the honor of hosting my first community event to paint stars for those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. As stars were passed out, I witnessed people sit down in the middle of a busy work week and chat. As I walked and assisted, I witnessed people encouraging one another. Huddled with brushes in hand, I watched a family talk and connect. As I pushed the layered paint before me, I glanced and noticed others getting a respite from the busyness of their lives. I could literally see people getting in the flow. If that was the only hour that each person had in their entire week to be in community… well, what an honor to host the start of connection. These messages and images of hope-shaped stars will then be passed on to lift up another community in need.
The stars did indeed align for that one little hour of community. Laughs were shared. Eyes and hands were delighted in the strokes of paint. Conversations were had. Even with the turmoil of the world, we may reflect on the African American folk song, Balm in Gilead, as songwriter John Wesley Work, II attested to a balm that will “make the wounded whole.” No matter the challenges in our future, may we seek out the balm of community to experience the old art of chatting together, looking into another’s eyes and hearing with our hearts for hope and peace.
Ready to connect to your people, your community? Let’s start together to create your calm place for self-care and healing. Feel free to reach out for a free consult.
You can also learn more about the work I do on the Meet Andrea page.
Looking forward to sharing the space with you,
Andrea Sutrick, ATR-BC, LMHC
References
Berkman, L.F. & Syme, S.L. (1979). Social networks, host resistance, and mortality: A nine-year follow-up study of Alameda County residents. American Journal of Epidemiology, 109(2):186-204. Doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112674. PMID: 425958
Work, J.W. (1915). Folk song of the American negro. Nashville, TN: Press of Fisk University. The United Presbyterian Mission Library. Digitized by the Internet Archive of 2012 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library. Retrieved from chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://ia801708.us.archive.org/19/items/folkameric00work/folkameric00work.pdf