The Value of Connection

I spent last Saturday in three completely different rooms with three completely different groups of people—and somehow, every one of them was teaching me the same thing.

We are starving for connection.

Not the digital kind, not the “hope you’re doing well” kind—the real, in-the-room, eye-contact, shoulder-to-shoulder kind we forgot how much we needed during the COVID years and haven’t quite rebuilt since.

Over 125 women gathered on a cold, rainy morning to learn, share, grow, and reconnect. The Gathering 2025 brought together growth-minded women—many of them business owners—to swap stories and solutions to the challenges we all face.

The breakout sessions covered everything from legal foundations and recognizing childhood wounds to wellness as we age and using your voice with confidence. Over lunch, small groups dove into conversations about conquering your closet, boosting productivity, growing your business, and healing from pain. Truly—there was something for every corner of our full, complicated lives.

I left feeling lit up. There’s nothing like being around women who are energized by their work, curious about new ideas, and generous with their wisdom. That kind of energy stays with you.

Later that day, my husband and I attended a graduation ceremony for a friend who completed the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission’s 12-month residential program for alcoholism and addiction treatment. It was powerful to witness not just stories of recovery, but the deep sense of family these men have formed with one another—and with those who guided them through the most challenging parts.

Photo borrowed from SB_RescueMission on Instagram.

Every speaker talked about the brotherhood (and sisterhood) that carried them. I’ve seen the same truth in my husband’s recovery journey, and I know how essential those bonds are.

The ceremony took place at my parents’ church—another place where people find connection, encouragement, faith, and community. A place where people show up for each other because they believe that’s what Jesus did.

All of it—The Gathering, the graduation, the church—reminded me that connection isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline. As a self-employed, work-from-home consultant, I feel this daily. I intentionally build in-person touchpoints throughout my week because I know I need people. Most of us do.

Even nature reflects this truth.
One aspen tree is only a small part of a much larger organism. A stand of aspens is actually a single living system, connected through an enormous underground root network. Those roots can lie dormant for years until the right conditions—especially sunlight—invite new life to rise and flourish.

Can we be the sunshine?

For our communities, our friends, our families—lifting one another into growth through connection?

If you’re feeling lonely or disconnected, consider what you love or what you’re curious to learn. There’s a group for absolutely everything.

I’m part of a vibrant group of women serving Santa Barbara through a local nonprofit. (We’re hosting a cookie-exchange gathering soon if you’re interested in learning more.)

And if you’re a writer craving inspiration or community, reach out. I’ll be launching a new accountability group for writers this spring—meeting regularly to share progress, build momentum, and encourage each other as we bring our work into the world.

Let’s stay connected.

Originally published on Substack.