3 Levels of Connection

Before you read this email, read the next sentence VERY carefully (I bolded it for extra emphasis!)

None of what you’re about to read is going to change the world. (well maybe not immediately)

It won't take away the worlds suffering, their will still be war, their will still be pain. (damn this is getting heavy)

The next few paragraphs are potentially deeply impactful. (that’s why I wrote them, and shared them)

However, I also know that they won’t eliminate the “ugly” parts of life. (those are kinda eternal)

Here’s the point - what follows are just words, they’re surface level, they alone won’t do a thing. (rather than hopefully spark a few new ideas within you)

What’s going to make the difference is whether we embody them, own them, and act upon them.

That’s your job.

That’s my job.

I present to you, the 3 levels of connection - a foundation for belonging, resilience, and confidence.

Level 1 - Nature

Let’s visit two places. (figuratively that is)

The first is in Northern California.

An hour and 30 minutes north of San Francisco awaits a fantastic ocean town called Bodega Bay.

There’s a golf course, a handful of restaurants (Spuds Point is the best), and endless breathtaking coastal views.

I discovered this sleepy town back in 2017 when I first moved to California.

It became my sanctuary.

There was something about it, a stillness, a rawness, a very strange sense of “home”.

Each time I visited, I left feeling more calm, and more understanding of whatever situation I was dancing with in life.

Frankly, I couldn’t tell you why the hell this was happening, but I liked it.

This leads us to location #2.

It requires a flight of 2,400 miles slightly southwest to the island of Lanai, HI.

One of the smaller Hawaiian islands, Lanai is nestled right between Molokai, Maui, and Khao’olawe.

Home to just 3,000 people, it’s where I lived for over a year back in 2021.

Life had a different level of fullness there.

And as I spent more time in that environment, once again the feeling from Bodgea Bay emerged.

But this time is was much stronger.

Time slowed down here.

Sure there were less distractions, but it wasn’t just that.

It was the presence of a core level connection emerging between myself and the land.

I explored as much as I could. (This was a bit hard as I didn’t have a car, but I did have my trusty two wheels - Stella. Pictured below)

We covered every mile of paved and dirt road possible.

And from this experience the true magnitude of “Level 1”, of nature, made itself known.

I found myself feeling larger than just my own body, bigger than my ego based existence.

It brought with it a sense of feeling grounded and rooted.

Little did I know this was really just the first domino.

What’s the point of me sharing all this personal experience?

I share it because I figure you’ve probably felt something like this before as well.

Maybe it’s your hometown, maybe it’s somewhere you visited, maybe it’s some park not to far from where you presently stay.

“Where it is”, is irrelevant.

The point is that you need to spend time there. (in whatever capacity life allows)

Go to that place in nature, sit, feel, and pay attention to what this connection between you and the environment means in your life.

For me it’s brewed a sense of belonging, of resilience, and most importantly appreciation for the world around us. (so don’t f**king litter! 🙂)

Level 2 - History

Now here’s the interesting thing.

The more I explored level 1 - nature, the more level 2 naturally emerged.

The fact is level 2 is intimately connected to level 1.

Because anywhere you study the land, you subsequently also study the people who inhabited it.

This is where level 2 comes to life.

Once again, I want to share 2 examples with you.

The first is what you see below….

This is Toleration statue.

It was erected in 1883 and is situated on top of “Molly’s” rock. (I'll tell you more about Ol’ Molly later, she was a bad ass!)

I came across this statue mistakingly one day as I went for a run in the park nearby.

Initally I was like, “woah, pretty cool”, but as I spent a few moments in the presence of this statue, and read it’s history, things went to a completely different level.

This statue, and the site it sits, has strong ties back to the American Revolution.

In fact, this very site, where the nine-foot-eight-inch statue stands, once split the woods between British Soilders and the American independence seekers!

Marinating on the history of it all, and specifically thinking about the people, not so different than me, 300 hundredish (not a real word) years ago doing incredible things, the weight of it all really sat in.

A string of connection, running from the present, back centuries, all linked through human experience.

It fostered a sense of belonging. A sense of togetherness.

Though I may sit here, not knowing where my life will lead, wherever it goes, it’s part of a history bigger than just itself.

That realization felt good.

But this just started things for level 2.

It wasn’t until a few weeks later, when another walk through the park truly confirmed the feeling.

Read that stone…

The date is mind boggling.

1723!

The other day I washed off my muddy shoes in that creek, while 300 years ago, folks were getting baptized here on Christmas. (I'm appalled by my actions)

As I read the stone I envisioned the scene, and held it side by side with my current surroundings.

Emerging again was this feeling of connection, of belonging, of comfort that even though there is uneasiness in the world, we always find a way through.

It brought a sense of responsbilty, like it was my (and our) time to carry the torch.

I say all of this to say, get out and do a bit of exploring around your own area and check out the local history.

Try to imagine the human lives that link the points of history together.

See what it does for you.

This brings us to the final level - level 3

Level 3 - People

As you explore the land, and as you explore the people who’ve inhabited the land, it’s impossible not to end with what, and who, is right in front of us.

Each other.

The other humans we inhabit this weird world with.

I don’t have a whole lot to say about level 3.

I’m still figuring this one out.

But here’s what I’ve noticed.

Just like you, those around you, are also part of this continuation of history, figuring it out day by day, taking their best guess.

Since this is the case, it might be best to take them lightly, with a sense of curiosity.

What is their experience like?

What does it look like to view the world through their lens?

This spirit brews once again, a sense of connection.

It disarms, and allows us to sit with one another in a place of openness and dare I say, love. (okay I won't get an hippier than that)

So for a final time, I invite you to try it out.

Go talk with the humans around you, and ask them questions, learn about their life and see what it does for you. 

The Way Forward

So what shall we make from all of this?

Here’s the essentials…👇🏻

Stop thinking you’re just you, making your way through life, day in and day out with just your motives and drives.

That’s bullcrap.

And we all know it.

In reality there are multiple levels of experience that are free to connect with.

And interestingly enough, the more fully you connect with these the brighter and more colorful your present day experience becomes.

So friends, let’s get to it.

Connect with the world around, both it’s present version, and it’s past.

As you do, keep your heart open (to woo?) and watch how your own sense of self feels more grounded, and full, than ever before.

Till next time.

Trevor