Sitting in a chair for many months writing my first book created some uniquely unpleasant aches and pains in my previously pain-free body. Those aches and pains were part of what led me to sit cross-legged on the floor in Blue Nectar Yoga Studio on one of the inaugural mornings of 2019. Yoga regulars set up blocks at the front of their mats. Others folded Mexican-style blankets into makeshift meditation cushions.
The teacher and studio owner, Jane Bahneman, walked into the room, radiating a level of positivity and good humor that would have been sufficient to power our small, semi-suburban town if someone had hooked her up to an emotional energy converter. She smiled broadly.
“Before we begin,” she said, “turn to the people next to you and say, ‘Hi.'”
My fellow yogis–the class was packed–seemed to have no problem following her recommendation. I, on the other hand, froze. Saying “hi” to people I didn’t know seemed like a slippery slope. Anything could happen. It opened the door to something potentially… unexpected. Like connection and conversation. Or you might notice that the person you were looking at was another actual person. And who knew what that could lead to?
A “hi-less” life is an impoverished life, indeed.
I turned and looked at the woman sitting next to me. We were around the same age. She had dark, shoulder-length hair and deep, brown eyes, with creases at the corners.
“Hi,” she said, her smile broadening to reveal the unique contours of her teeth.
“Hi.” I smiled back.
It wasn’t hard to do. The process of greeting another human being I’d never met before reacquainted me with a part of myself I’d forgotten existed. This part of me seemed to have once had no trouble at all feeling connected to others, whether I knew them or not.
We held each other’s gaze for another moment before turning to face the front of the room and await further yoga instructions. I felt more comfortable and “in my body” than I had before our greeting. I decided to begin cultivating a willingness to connect with others in situations where I usually kept my blinders on. Because a willingness to connect to other members of the human race–the majority of whom we don’t know–is a relational superpower worth cultivating.
“I like to begin class that way,” our teacher said as she lowered herself onto her mat. “It’s the lost art of saying ‘hi’ and it’s a good thing to practice.”
***
What’s Next? Talk with others. Take action.
We are proud of our SOCIAL INTEREST GROUPS—WEEKLY PHONE CALLS to discuss, gain insights, build communities— and help solve some of the most difficult challenges the world has today. Calls are for Members Only (although you can join the first call for free). Not yet a member of The Good Men Project? Join below!
RSVP for Intersectionality Calls
—
Join the Conscious Intersectionality FACEBOOK GROUP here. Includes our new call series on Human Rights.
Join The Good Men Project Community
All levels get to view The Good Men Project site AD-FREE. The $50 Platinum Level is an ALL-ACCESS PASS—join as many groups and classes as you want for the entire year. The $25 Gold Level gives you access to any ONE Social Interest Group and ONE Class–and other benefits listed below the form. Or…for $12, join as a Bronze Member and support our mission, and have a great ad-free viewing experience.
Register New Account
Please note: If you are already a writer/contributor at The Good Men Project, log in here before registering. (Request new password if needed).
◊♦◊
ANNUAL PLATINUM membership ($50 per year) includes:
1. AN ALL ACCESS PASS — Join ANY and ALL of our weekly calls, Social Interest Groups, classes, workshops and private Facebook groups. We have at least one group phone call or online class every day of the week.
2. See the website with no ads when logged in!
3. MEMBER commenting badge.
***
ANNUAL GOLD membership ($25 per year) includes all the benefits above — but only ONE Weekly Social Interest Group and ONE class.
***
ANNUAL BRONZE membership ($12 per year) is great if you are not ready to join the full conversation but want to support our mission anyway. You’ll still get a BRONZE commenting badge, and you can pop into any of our weekly Friday Calls with the Publisher when you have time. This is for people who believe—like we do—that this conversation about men and changing roles and goodness in the 21st century is one of the most important conversations you can have today.
♦◊♦
We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.
Photo from Unsplash.