THE VALUE OF HUMAN CONNECTION
~ By Paul McQuillan
Many years ago, I saw a play on Broadway entitled, Six Degrees of Separation. The title of the play became representative of many metaphors that were colourfully executed by the playwright, but the crux of the theory is this:
There are no more than six degrees of separation between any one human being and another.
In other words, any one person could connect themselves to say, The Queen of England, through five acquaintances.
This was a theory that was developed after the First World War by a Hungarian author named Korinthy who posited that the people of the world were becoming more connected through the advancement of technology and geographical density.
Given our further evolution in technology in the past decade alone, one might argue that "six degrees of separation" could be down to three or four steps to establish the human link.
But there's a dark irony at play here.
Despite endless innovations, one could make the unflattering assessment (simply by looking around for a few moments) that we are more disconnected from each other than ever.
Unfortunately, it's just a symptom of a much larger issue -- a pandemic of detachment from ourselves -- propagated by an unhealthy, distraction-driven attachment to our many electrical devices and their addictive lure.
We use them, perhaps subconsciously, to protect ourselves from the "inconvenience" of the physical, verbal and emotional vulnerabilities that can only be felt in the actual presence of another human being.
We also use them to escape from ourselves.
But how much are we losing by making this choice? Is there any real replacement for human interaction and its inarguable benefits?
Even when in the physical presence of others, be it at the dinner table, a classroom or a coffee meeting, we hold "weapons of mass distraction" in our hands or on our laps as if to ward off the accountability that accompanies true engagement with another human being.
But again, at what cost?
In an effort to "protect" ourselves, we only further the damage caused by our strange desire to stay "autonomous", "independent", or "free" of the imagined burdens that come with having to talk to each other face-to-face, or truly check in with ourselves when we are alone.
We use dating sites and social media to separate our physical self and retreat into the "safety" of cyber-anonymity.
The energy vibe is lost; their ultimate benefits abandoned.
In this sense, "six degrees of separation" is the antithesis of its original meaning.
It becomes six degrees of separation from not just others, but the self.
Each degree could come in the form of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Gmail, Tinder, Bumble or Snapchat -- all tools that, when overused and mistakenly drawn upon to construct your "identity"-- take you farther away from the only thing that is actually real: Your essence.
Now the good news: The powerfully simple act of breathing and paying attention to your body while you practice yoga can create a stronger connection than you will ever get from wifi or any social media platform.
This kind of visceral, authentic association with the self can be accessed daily, and once you have taken the time to truly appreciate the freedom that this action instantly affords you, a great epiphany may appear:
There are no degrees of separation.
Instant connection is a choice available in each moment, a choice that transcends the self-imposed boundaries of electronics, enabling one to arrive at a euphoric state of ubiquitous connection -- to yourself, others, and everything.
And if you feel as though it's not as gratifying as your laptop or phone, give some real thought to the absurdity of choosing an inanimate object over yourself hundreds of times throughout the day.
Make "you" a priority. Then watch what happens...
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Paul McQuillan (owner/director)
Author of bestseller,
"I Hate Yoga" Morgan James Publishing NYC, 2015.
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