Beauty in the Hard

I was talking to an old friend on the phone last night. I had sent her a text before calling her because I didn’t want to just call, and I definitely didn’t want to send her a text chain. I mean I really would have loved to sit at the table and have a cup of coffee with her, but she lives many states away. She responded that she was tucking in her son and she would call me. It was so wonderful to catch up. It was nice to have some sort of connection with her over the phone and to hear a friendly voice that I hadn’t heard in a really long time. I wondered, what happened to my generation and generations after? When did we stop talking on the phone as often? I find it interesting how such a lonely society who I often share conversations with, talks about how they wish they had friends, and a tribe and all the things but we’ve completely shifted to a texting culture and even that sometimes you don’t get much of a response. I watch my daughters friends text messages come through with one word responses, Hi, good, ok, cool, etc and I think what in the world? It’s so interesting how we were once a world of humans who really needed community, they formed packs, they protected one another, broke bread together, stopped off some fresh eggs or delicious baked good because they wanted to support their friend.

I find myself more often than not trying to figure out where we went wrong. Our foods have a shelf last much longer than I have ever seen, the choices on the shelves are many and overwhelming, the convenience is easier than ever… You can order pretty much anything straight to your home. Somewhere life shifted and we became exhausted, walking, robots who are always “busy”, always tired, always overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, you name it. Now I deeply speak of this from a humbled state because I find myself very much falling into this pit of survival mode, stressed, dodging community, feeling like a text response is a chore and just lonely as can be. Now maybe you are reading this and thinking, I do not feel this way. But, can I be honest? SO many do. Was motherhood this exhausting before cell phones, tv, internet, and all the distractions we make ourselves busy with? Well, I am sure it’s always been exhausting lol, but I wonder if its mounds more than it ever was. What will be the breaking point for our generations? Who will stand up and speak for sanity and connection? Where is the line drawn?

Anyway, a little heavy on today’s note but I just found myself in some deep thought and wonder where it all changed. I enjoyed my conversation so much with my friend. Surely my number is in many peoples phones. I sure wish they would pick it up for a quick hello.

Anyway, I have to bake some cookies for a community gathering tomorrow on the base and I can hardly wait to be a part of something. I find myself constantly searching myself, constantly trying to seek wisdom, see myself from the outside and just not be such a trend follower but someone who is weary of the ever changing.

I hope your day had a glimpse of beauty.

Be blessed

Brittany Hollander