For many of us, disconnection and loneliness are feelings that follow us every day. That sense of disconnection from other people or community can make many things in our life feel harder; days can feel long, little defeats can feel overwhelming, and change can feel untenable. When we experience trauma, it can be natural to sink inwards, even though we know that isolation is one of the things that can exacerbate the impact of traumatic experiences. We all yearn for a loving and consistent community around us, and this takes time to cultivate and grow. At the 10.27 Healing Partnership we seek to open new avenues for connection, from warm moments to ongoing friendships. Everyone’s journey is different, and we seek to reflect that in the offerings within our events and programs. When you enter the 10.27 Healing Partnership space, whether for a program or just to stop by, you’ll be greeted by one of our staff members and a comfortable living-room atmosphere where you can grab tea or candy and relax on our couches. We’re happy to either chat and catch up or have longer conversations with you if you’re feeling like something has been weighing on your mind. Many of our programs offer opportunities for folks to connect in empathetic new environments. At our forest bathing program through the wheelchair-accessible trails around the Frick Environmental Center, trained guides invite participants to discuss their individual experiences about their gentle forest exploration. What are you noticing? How does this program feel for you? When you are in nature, maybe reconnecting to a more calm or childlike state, what’s an image that comes to mind? Sometimes programming here can be very quiet and peaceful, with little actual conversation. During Tai Chi and Qi Gong, yoga, or reiki-infused sound bathing, you can relax and let go of normal social responsibilities. These programs are largely embodied and silent, led by a caring instructor. But before and after class you can expect to see and chat with regular participants; these types of everyday, kind interactions prime our minds for connection, both within our center and in the rest of our days, and make us feel more optimistic about the world and our community. Sometimes we all need space for ongoing and more involved conversations. For folks who prefer in-depth connections and spending time immersed in the emotions and difficulties of the human life we share, you could give our “morning pages” program a try, where we write together on a specific prompt and then spend time sharing and discussing that topic’s significance to us. We’ve seen this program balloon with meaning for our participants over the last two months, and it could be a good opportunity for those diving deeply into these relational spaces. A similar space exists within our grief group, where participants have recognized that they are not alone. Together, they are building a space where they feel both supportive and supported in their grief and in the complexities of loss. Some of our programs facilitate a social experience that breaks from our usual norms. In our singing circle and drumming group, participants have a chance to step outside of how we usually deal with our emotions or talk to others, and we try something totally novel and new that focuses on rhythm, sound, playfulness and the spirit of music. However you hope to connect with others, we seek to create spaces and programs where you can have warm conversations and reconnect to a sense of belonging. Whether you have a rich social network or you are feeling isolated, we hope to inspire you to foster a caring and empathetic connection today. As always, all of our programs are free and open to everyone. Learn more about our individual programs below. |