"Collective effervescence is an experience of connection, communal emotion, and a "sensation of sacredness" that happens when we are part of something bigger than us."
In these 31 Days of October I am unpacking my learning from the book, Braving The Wilderness, by Brené Brown. She has been a favorite author for years. In this new publication she manages to build a sidewalk and curb in the wilderness where we can bravely tread.
Walking in the wilderness becomes so much more satisfying when we have experiences with strangers in collective joy and even collective sorrow.
Yesterday we celebrated two years since our little island started a Music Mends Minds band and sing-a-long at the Community Care Home. We gathered in a our concert hall and invited the whole town to join in. I played the piano and this was the first time back after knee surgery. When we all sang together I remembered the collective joy of singing silly lyrics and heartbreaking ballads. The singing connected old to young and rich and poor. There was no sorting there. You didn't have to be healthy, talented, or even in your right mind to enjoy singing songs from the 40's, 50's, 60's an so on.
"But the more we're willing to seek out moments of collective joy and show up for experiences of collective pain- for real, in person, not online,- the more difficult it becomes to deny our human connection, even with people we may disagree with."
I love how music is such a powerful tool for bringing people together!
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