Day #5 Connection: Excellent

I woke today with what can only be described as a feeling of nervous excitement. Luke and I had embarked upon further conversations since the encounter in the last blog.

He had in fact called me the day before today, poised with an idea. “Dwayne, we need to do an Instagram Live!” He exclaimed with a serious conviction, “the people need to hear what we have to say.”

“Yeah. I mean…I hear you. But…”

The ever laid back me responded with reserved trepidation that this is something we would need to plan, not something we could just jump straight into.

“Why not!” Was the retort. He stated that surely we could put something together, it didn’t have to be professional looking; heck, we had our iPhones for heavens sake. With one of those there isn’t a job that cannot be done.

I wilted of course because everything that Luke had just said was correct. We did need to be heard and it truly wasn’t difficult to put our voices out there in the digital realm.

“Okay!” I said as the realisation kicked in that this was still part of the manifestations of my ‘This Connected’ journey. “Let’s do it tomorrow!”

“What will the topic be?” Luke enquired in earnest.

“Hmm” I mused… “Dealing with Cabin Fever within a concrete jungle.”

“Yes! Of course. A lot of people are experiencing depression since the lockdown.” Luke agreed.

So, it was decided. I had previously downloaded an app from which you could design and edit online flyers, posters and banners etc. I took two pictures of ourselves from social media (of course) and added them to a template with words to finish. Simples.

With the advertising completed and served online; both of our Instagram feeds had our poster ready for the next scroll up from a potential viewer.

Fast forward to today and I am recording a little video promo, asking my loyal faithfuls to tune in while walking to my local co-op.

I actually spent most of my time, thinking about what I was going to say on this evenings show. Apart from a few phone calls in between, I did nothing but lay there.

I lay there thinking about the things I knew about, but how would I communicate those things vocally in a way people listening would understand.

Maybe the professionals could help. I switched on the Apple TV and scrolled down on the remote to the TED app. There’s probably a really intriguing talk on psychology on there and I will be inspired! Anxiety relinquished.

Sure enough I did find a really good talk from a gentleman named Johann Hari and he spoke about the reasons why you could be depressed or anxious. I won’t tell you the reasons why because he already did, might as well tell you about the next thing instead.

It was now time for the show and I joined Luke on Instagram live to host our first conversation on ‘The Signal’.

That’s exactly what the whole segment ended up being. A conversation. Just two relatable guys having a chat about the important things in life away from the constant tictoks and twerking.

Do you know what? It was actually well received from the people who stayed to watch and listen. With one in particular, a friend of mine who I had only seen probably once since our Primary School days.

She had been afflicted with some of the contents that were discussed within her own life, and just wanted some advice and clarity I guess from my own perspective.

She decided to send me a message.

I decided what was required was a phone call.

The conversation which took place ensued for close to an hour as we divulged the secret treasures found in the darkest depths of depression and the rewards which can be claimed from unraveling such secrets.

I didn’t ever consider that others too had been in my same predicament. To such an extent too.

In my mind ‘This Connected’ had been solely about me reconnecting with the people I had lost to time and memory. It was mainly to chronicle my journey in re-establishing those connections. Me making the initial first step.

Yet here was somebody who felt the urge to reconnect with me. This person reached out when the status quo had prevented her from doing so in the past.

This had all happened from my initial desire to be ‘this connected’. There are also people out there who want to get this connected with me!

I think that is a truly marvellous thing.