On my island
I just returned from a week away up in Vermont. Including the retreat I'd been at, I was away for ten days. What a gift to be able to take the time for both solitude and solidarity in such a beautiful part of the country.
And...
I have living beings who rely on me, multiple times a day. My bunnies Timi and Yeti, Lucy the feral cat, the birds. The birds? Sure, they can and did get by without the attention usually lavished on them. The cat? She's a survivor. She would have done okay, though thankfully there was a crew to catch her. The bunnies? Not at all. They're completely dependent on me and the life I've constructed for us.
So I assembled a crew of neighbors, friends and family who could take care of these animals, gifting me the chance to get away, catching my pets and actually catching me too.
It was orchestration—who was available for which shift on which day? Who could play backup should someone get sick or forget? Where would I leave the supplies? Where would I leave the instructions? What if something went wrong?
There were surprise moments—when Patrick and Ron turned the corner at once, one from the living room and one from the front door, apparently working the same shift. Or the text asking how to lock the door.
And there were delightful ones—a photo or video from Starr or Holly of one of the furry friends being taken care of, and me being taken care of in the process.
This past week-plus reminded me that we do not have to be alone in this world, though sometimes it might seem that way. Rather, we can and do build community around us that is there for us when asked. The community I've nurtured over the years showed up for me, giving me time away that otherwise wouldn't have been possible. This same community, even if different members, is showing up for me in support during this current job search. And this same community, again different members, is showing up for me this weekend in celebration.
“No man is an island, entire of itself”
If you are reading this, you are on my island, you are my community, you are my crew.