Human connection: to see and to be seen.

Let's talk about connection📷

No, no, no! Not tension and compression. Human connection. Spoiler: let's talk about unconditional love📷.

What I will try to express is hard to put into words. It might sound too simple unless you look deeply.

Two weeks ago, I attended Browly and Inga workshop in Colorado. My friend Thea, who organized it, always looks deeply at things. She aimed to help people by showing them what dance and movement can do to their personal growth, healing, and human connection. So, as a bonus, she brought up guest instructor Dr. Marc Donovan, who led a masterclass on discovering your most authentic voice and how to express it from there. Different modalities. Same goal.📷

It was very therapeutic. One of the exercises we did in Marc's class was facing another person, holding each other's hands, and looking into each other's eyes.📷 That's it. Well, it's already a very intense situation for the generation of people whose phones are the only thing they hold and stare at most of the time. But the next step was even more interesting: you had to stay in the same handhold-eye contact situation and.. wait for it: BE SEEN and SEE THE OTHER PERSON📷. And then tell them what you saw. I was like: " What???? We already see, and what does that even mean? BE SEEN?" This exercise didn't work for me or the stranger I paired up with because we protected ourselves by wearing a mask of polite smiles, humor, and laughter out of fear📷.

But this question has been bugging me since then: What is it like just to BE, to BE SEEN and TO SEE THE OTHER. What is it like being fully present, acknowledging the other person's existence, and allowing them to see your true self. Aren't we already "ARE"? What is the detail? What is the truth I am missing?

An answer found me yesterday📷. I was driving to teach a lesson in the dance studio, and a homeless man asked for help at the intersection. I had food in my car, so I gave it to him. And here, the moment of magic happened: he gave me the most kind, generous, genuine smile in the world. It was the highlight of my day. It was an eye-opening moment. In society (especially in American culture), we usually smile, talk briefly, and be polite. But do we believe those smiles? It's friendly but casual, and it can be really valuable📷.

And this man's eyes were so deep, kind, and warm. He gave me way more than I gave him. He wasn't embarrassed by his situation. He didn't take his gaze away. He wasn't angry or anxious. There was PEACE 📷in his eyes. He accepted his situation. He let go of something. He was genuine, vulnerable, honest, kind, and grateful without saying any words. As humans, we can sense, and no words are needed sometimes.

We should never judge because we never know the depth of a person's struggles. At that moment, I felt I could be in his place and that he would give me food. It's like we are all ONE and created as a community to help and support each other and NOT TO JUDGE.

That was the AHA moment for me of 'SEE AND BE SEEN.' It was the moment when I truly sensed the power of human connection and vulnerability. 📷📷

The raw, vulnerable truth of struggles, suffering, and dark sides connects us as humans. We all can relate to it. Not the mask of perfection, not the mask of playing it cool. It's safe to try to be perfect. Or pretend it. Very safe. But the sad part is that no one knows and sees you, so we don't experience the LOVE OF BEING FULLY ACCEPTED. How damn hard is it to have the courage to open up about your flaws, your struggles, and your imperfections... The fear of rejection is so intense. But when we muster the courage to be vulnerable, we unleash a transformative power. It feels life-threatening but is the key to genuine connection and growth.📷

Then, I went back to my memories and analyzed them. It was those moments when the other person was honest and vulnerable with me when I loved them the most. It's not an excuse, but people will pretend to be very cool, play it like they don't care, know it all, are always right, attack first, ignore you, etc etc- it's just a protection mechanism to hide their true vulnerable soul. But I love it when people dare to open up the struggle. I respect the bravery, taking a risk to open up, and the risk of BEING SEEN. That's the most profound connection. The feeling- it could be me. The sense of oneness. The moment of forgiveness and compassion. Judgment goes away. 📷📷

How hard is it to accept your situation, make peace with it, see things to be grateful for, and be kind and compassionate to others? Well, it's not hard, but it is nearly impossible at most moments. Some would describe it as "when EGO dies and LOVE takes place."

What does it take to be at peace with our struggles and darkness? Do we need to lose it all like the homeless man to become humble enough, or is there another way without much loss and pain? The truth is, we all have our struggles. They may not be as visible as the homeless man's, but they are just as accurate. Recognizing this shared humanity can help us cultivate empathy and understanding.

Those are just some thoughts I wanted to share with you. I wish you, my friend, to experience this magic of SEEING AND BEING SEEN—the gift of UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. I wish you to experience a heart-to-heart connection on the dance floor and in life.

Much love 📷📷📷,

Maria