It started as an experiment.
A few years ago I went through a pretty big health challenge related to post-Covid burnout.
Landed me in the ER.
Slow Steps
An avid walker I chose to walk a path back to health. Aided by homeopathy and nutrition I did not accept prescription medication.
Day after day, often multiple times a day I walked with a focus on nothing more than trying to get away from my own overly cluttered mind. During this time I stumbled on a unique approach to healing.
Texting.
A Friend in Need
As members of my family were also dealing with post-Covid stress I searched for a way to heal that wouldn’t add to their burden. Walking did about 75% of the work as it allowed me to think about nothing.
Is A Friend Indeed
During these months I began texting with a friend I’d known for decades.
Worked with him in tech, stayed friends long after I’d left the company and moved across the country.
Peas in a Pod
At the time he was facing his own challenges.
My family was empathetic and caring to what he was dealing with and consistently passed on their support and well-wishes.
An Experiment
Walking mile after mile 7 days a week regardless of weather helped me regain my equilibrium. Eager to move forward I searched for a way to redirect my thoughts so I didn’t regress. The answer – surprisingly – came from the mundane.
“How’s the weather?”
This simplistic small-talk was a way for us to stay in touch and not flood the other with something out of their control.
Compassion is wonderful but it can lead to burdening the empathic/ sympathetic – something neither of us wanted to do to the other.
Small talk kept it real.
One morning I sent a text asking if he’d be up for a light-hearted experiment.
Talk About the Weather
“Wanna see if we can draw energy to synchronize the weather?”
The intent was no different than someone who prays for rain or relief from snow and cold.
The Key.
Our experiment would never stand up to the scientific method but that wasn’t the point. It was two people trying to help each other through a rough patch by focusing on something mundane.
Our results were good enough I asked if he’d be willing to take it a step further.
To Help Others
I knew of a number of individuals who needed a bit of help with various aspects of life. I asked my friend if he’d pool his good vibes/prayer energy with mine to see if our positive energy would have a positive effect.
I use the term prayer loosely as he was not brought up in any denomination though he has a solid sense of caring about others. I felt/feel his positive energy could only help.
Our results were consistently positive and soon we were pinging each other for various causes. We were very choosy.
Valuing each other’s contribution we never asked unless it was important.
We never wanted to overwhelm or unduly burden.
There came a point where I roped in a family member, making our Two-man group into a Three-man group that occasionally focuses energy on a project that will help others.
Though each of us uses a different method, a shared philosophy of believing our pooled energies make a difference, alongside a sincere desire to help, fuels our successes.
Love caring and positive energy joined together can bring miracles.
Be well.
Elizabeth Maxim 