The threads that connect us – Raksha Bandhan

Last week, on 28 August, it was the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan.

The name translates to mean the bond of protection, and traditionally the festival celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. A sister ties a sacred thread, or rakhi, around her brother’s wrist and, in return, he promises to protect and support her.

But I think there is something in the idea of the thread that goes far beyond the traditional festival.

Because all of us are held by invisible threads.

The people we call when we need help.
The friend who knows when something isn’t quite right.
The neighbour who stops for a chat.
The family member who makes us laugh.
The person we sit beside every week in yoga.

These connections may seem small, but they matter enormously.

We often think about healthy ageing in terms of what we eat, how much we exercise and how well we sleep. All important, of course. But our relationships are part of our wellbeing too.

As we get older, our social world can sometimes become smaller. Children leave home, work changes or finishes, friends move away and life circumstances shift. It becomes increasingly important to actively create and maintain the connections that nourish us.

And connection doesn’t necessarily mean having lots of people around us.

A handful of meaningful relationships can be enough.

Sometimes it’s simply a regular coffee with a friend. A walk with someone you love. Joining a class. Volunteering. Picking up the phone instead of sending a message. Making the effort to ask someone how they really are — and listening to the answer.

Perhaps this is one reason I like the symbolism of the rakhi so much.

A simple thread becomes a reminder:

I am connected to you. You matter to me. We support one another.

And perhaps we all need little reminders of our threads from time to time.

Just ‘One Thing’ you can do…

Reach out to someone.

Don’t wait for them to contact you. Send a message, make a phone call, arrange a coffee or simply let someone know you’re thinking of them.

Small acts of connection can be surprisingly powerful.