I’ve been thinking about connections the last few days.

When growing up, we knew everyone and everyone knew us. We always got discounts at the grocery store because he knew us. We always got discounts at the bakery – in fact my dad would walk in, still does, and act like one of the owners sometimes, giving customers what they were asking. The pav bhaji wala till date does not take money from us. The clothes stores, same thing. The principal/ teachers, the doctors, the house help, the taxi drivers, everyone. We knew their stories, their names, often their children’s names and much more.

What do you know today? Do you care? We have a bunch of ‘friends’ on social media, all projecting a great false life to each other and that’s about it. The society has become more and more about money, and less and less about connections. And it isn’t just because people are changing cities and jobs on a yearly basis. It is because we’re terrified of connecting deeply, of baring our souls to another.

A 70 year long Harvard study showed that the secret to happiness is not money or success – not even remotely, but healthy and fulfilling relationships. No wonder our society is becoming more and more depressed by the day.

It doesn’t have to be this way. I’ve taught this for several years now – you attract what you give out. When you’re willing to open up your heart, you attract similar people towards you. Yes, you still have to ‘put up’ with what you will eventually perceive as fake relatives and colleagues, but you will have more loving and open people in your life. The main question for today is, do you really want a life like that? And more importantly, are you willing to invest in such a life?