Facebook, Mental Health and Spirituality

Hello Everyone


Last week was a big week for me. I received a phone call one evening from a dear friend of mine and it was obvious she was very distressed. Early the next morning I received another call from the hospital to say that she was ill. As my sister suicided 10 years ago, I am now acutely aware of the mental anguish some people experience and how difficult it can be for them to ask for help.
I changed my plans for the week and flew across the country to be with her and help her in any way I could. It seemed that one of the best things I could do for her was to take her away to a quiet piece of the countryside. I was lucky that the beach was only 30 minutes away and we found an isolated spot to soak up the sun, listen to the waves gently lapping the shoreline and watch the birds. She fell asleep swaddled by the beauty and therapy that only nature can offer. Later she awoke feeling far more peaceful.

What is it about nature that is so soothing and nourishing to the spirit? Not that I do know the answer but, I suppose in some way it touches the inner core of who we are and our deep connectedness to this planet.

My relationship and commitment to this dear friend is something I cherish. So it is with some detachment that I read about the great social media of Facebook having reached its 500 millionth ‘friend’. There is no doubt that the internet and all it offers is going to be a significant part of the future. It IS another world and one that we will need to understand.
We have the internet and while it is the future, what is equally clear is that we need to remember our connectedness with the planet and the intimate friendships that go well beyond anything that Facebook could ever offer.
At its deepest level, our commitment to spiritual fulfilment, social justice and environmental sustainability are not likely to be achieved by superficial relationships on the net. We need not only a balance but a real desire to highlight the importance of nature. What were the words of that famous song? Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens... wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings these are a few of my favourite things!

Yes we have technology and it can be wonderful, we just need a balance.
Live! love! Laugh!

Roz Townsend visit www.roztownsend.com