Convention

“Nothing in nature lives for itself. Rivers don’t drink their own water. Trees don’t eat their own fruit. The sun doesn’t shine for itself. A flowers fragrance is not for itself. Living for each other is the rule of nature.”  
~100thseed.org

Together. Together we are stronger. In this country we are so focused on independence. Doing it on our own. Someone is a warrior or strong if they can do it all. By themselves. We value this attitude so much in our culture that we have entire industries trying to heal adrenal glands and people in therapy on why they can’t commit or ask for help. All because we must do it on our own.

Coming from a large family we naturally did things together. You leaned when you needed to and you pulled your sleeves up and did extra work when you needed to. No score card, you just do it. Because that’s what family does.

When I became a nurse and did rounds through maternal child units (the units in the hospital you go to have a baby) and this “together” feeling seemed so squashed by our culture. Mom’s feeling like they are failing their newborns if they ask for help. Moms and dads feeling they have to do it by themselves or they aren’t measuring up. It takes a village to raise a child. Babies don’t always know how to eat at first. Moms often need extra rest and food. I spoke about this to an older nurse I worked with and she pointed out how in previous generations we lived in multi generational households. When someone had a baby- everyone helped out. Everyone spit the load to carry. Together.

The theme for global convention for dŌterra this year is “Together.” I love this oil-y community so much. Arriving in Salt lake convention week is so wonderful. Support and connection buzzes in the air. On my walk from my hotel I met a lovely woman from Tennessee who shared the walk and her umbrella with me (this desert girl isn’t even sure if I still own an umbrella). We chatted and laughed like old friends. Then we partied ways to join our own teams but it was so lovely. Knowing you have 35K strangers who have your back is a wonderful feeling.

Let’s revisit our views on community and family. Change the mold.
One more reason I love my burning man family so much. We are that family, that community. That’s what is missing from this world in order for us to heal. It isn’t the latest technology, it’s community.