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Connectedness

Among the most effective antidotes (and preventatives) for terrorism and grief
are laughter, love, and connections.

Definition     Introduction     Activities     Resources

   Full Text Hallowell Article (PDF)

Definition
"What is connectedness?  It is a sense of being a part of something larger than oneself.  It is a sense of belonging, or a sense of accompaniment.  It is that feeling in your  bones that you are not alone.  It is a sense that, no matter how scary things may become, there is a hand for you in the dark.  While ambition drives us to achieve, connectedness is my word for the force that urges us to ally, to affiliate, to enter into mutual relationships, to take strength and to grow through cooperative behavior."
[p. 196] 
This is Edward M. Hallowell’s definition of “connectedness” from an essay of the same name: "Connectedness," pp. 193-209, in  Finding the Heart of the Child, Association of Independent Schools in New England, Inc., 1993. 

In that essay he also describes some of the ways in which different forms of connectedness are possible, important, and at risk:  familial, historical, social, institutional/organizational, informational (ideas), religious/transcendent.  

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Introduction
(Steve Gilbert)

"I'm worried about how we can re-build our world to enable more people to live their lives under conditions of trust and safety -- conditions where each of us can be part of meaningful communities, where we can be connected in ways that matter.

"...this morning I continue to read reports of what happened in Oklahoma City and how people there are having so much trouble regaining their ability to continue their daily lives without frequent feelings of fear and mistrust."

This is from the introduction Steve Gilbert  wrote on December 31, 1995 for a long posting to the AAHESGIT [later, TLT-SWG] listserv. 

 

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Resources

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Activities

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