You may have heard of the phrase “sharing is caring”. We use that in our house a lot. Usually in a joke about sharing germs if one of us has a cold,
The other day I had a good chat over the garden fence with my lovely neighbour. Even though we live next door, we don’t see each other often. So when we’re both out doing a bit of gardening, it’s nice to take a few moments to catch up. We also did a bit of produce swapping. I’ll see your Aloe vera and lemon grass and raise it to fresh eggs and cherry tomatoes.
What is it about freshly harvested food that tastes so much better? Well, the quicker from the harvest to the plate (or mouth in my case) the more nutrients and vitamins are in the food. Long travel and storage diminishes the vitamins in the produce. That’s why a farmer’s market is much better than supermarket bought “fresh” food, as it could have been in storage facilities for months and sprayed with chemical to keep it looking good.
These opportunistic interactions have a positive effect on our health too. Connection with others whether human or a pet, stimulates your Oxytocin which is important for wellbeing. It helps to strengthen your immune system and keeps you happy and healthy.
Research has shown the social interactions we have don’t have to be lengthy, they just have to be meaningful. For example, finding out the name of your local coffee shop worker and asking how they are. Learning a bit of information about them and asking about it the next time you see them and them doing to same to you. If you get regular post, find out your postie’s name and waving each time you see them. Doing a regular walk around your community and saying hello to whoever you meet. It not only does you good, but improves the lives of people around you too.
Good thoughts, become good deeds, become good lives.
When I see clients, we work on the circle of care. Asking yourself what have a done for myself today? What have a done for my family or friends? Then what have I done for my community? The community part can be putting some water of food out for the birds. Smiling and saying hello to someone you don’t know. Picking up a bit of litter while out walking or volunteering at an animal shelter or homeless charity.
Extending yourself and making a difference to lives around you can give your life more purpose and stop you obsessing about your life being less than perfect. It gives you meaning and enjoyment seeing someone else smile and thanking you for your efforts or kind words.
Much love
Karen
Therapist – Artist – Author – Conscious Connecter
www.kasona.com.au
“When we get caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with each other and ourselves” – Jack Kornfield