The Forgotten Art of Connection

Rebuilding Relationships and Community in a Disconnected World

I remember during the early days of the pandemic, something beautiful happened in my neighbourhood. Artists would come and perform, singing and dancing while people peeked from windows or gathered (at a safe distance) in the green spaces between our blocks of flats. For a moment, we felt connected. We smiled at each other. We talked. We were a community.

And then, life resumed.

Or rather, the old way of life resumed, where busyness crept back in, where we drifted back into our individual bubbles, where connection became something we scheduled instead of something we lived.

These days, we don’t lean into community when things are hard. We don’t even know how to. We’ve forgotten how to ask for support, whether it’s guidance in our careers, help navigating life changes, or simply a safe space to be witnessed.

We scroll. We “like.” We send the occasional emoji. But we don’t really share—at least not the raw, vulnerable parts of ourselves. The parts that are uncertain. Hurting. Or quietly longing for belonging.

I Grew Up Knowing My Neighbours

I grew up in a small town. It felt safe. Familiar. You knew people, really knew them. You could knock on your neighbour’s door if the shop was closed and you were short a cup of sugar. You’d help each other out without keeping score.

That sense of community wasn’t perfect, but it held people. And I’ve never stopped longing for that.

I want to be part of a community where I can share the good and the bad. Where I can grieve and know I’ll be held. Where I can show up in my joy and have people to celebrate with. Where we carry each other through.

A Moment of Witnessing

The other day, I had the privilege of witnessing two wonderful women share their hearts. No advice was needed. No response. Just pure presence. A space of witnessing, of holding, of being with what is.

And I realised how rare and how essential this is.

We are so disconnected. From ourselves. From each other. From the deep, soulful bonds that nourish our sense of being human. And yet, I know I’m not alone in this yearning. Many of us want more connection. More real conversation. More moments of “I see you.”

I see you!!

An Invitation to Reconnect

In my coaching, I help clients reach out and nurture relationships. And I know I can do better in my own life too.

So, this is me putting it out there: If we’re connected and you’re reading this, I’d love to speak with you. Truly. I’d love to know what’s going on in your life. What challenges you’re facing? I’d love to listen, not to fix, but simply to witness you.

Like many of us, I get caught in the doing. The constant motion. And the things that truly matter, like relationships, can fall by the wayside.

But no more. What I want, deeply, is to have real conversations. Whether deep or simple. I want to reconnect with those I’ve crossed paths with. To reawaken relationships that might be slumbering. To begin again.

A Word About Boundaries

Let me be clear, this is about human-to-human connection. As a woman, it can be hard to reach out as there is the discomfort of professional outreach being misinterpreted. I know people who have had propositions when they were simply trying to initiate meaningful conversations. And I know they are not the only ones.

Let’s create a world where women reaching out is seen for what it is, an invitation to dialogue, to community, to support, not something else. Would you want your daughter or your wife to experience that kind of misreading? Then let’s do better. Let’s be better.

Building Something New

So what do I really want?

I want us to show up for one another. Not just once but consistently. Even if you’re busy now, respond. Let’s book a time next week. Next month. Let’s make connection part of how we live, not an afterthought.

And more than that, I want to build something. A community of professionals who care. Who want to elevate one another. Who are willing to be real. To support. To celebrate. To share the load.

What About You?

Where have you let relationships fade into the background?

Who would you love to reach out to, just to reconnect?

What would it feel like to be truly seen and heard—no fixing, no judgement, just witnessing?

Let’s start there.

If this resonates with you, let’s talk. Let’s reconnect. Let’s rebuild something we’re all missing: the simple, sacred bond of being human together.

---

Debbie Brupbacher

About the Author

Debbie Brupbacher is a Transformation & Career Coach, ultra runner, and founder of Embodied Transformation, guiding leaders, individuals and teams through deep personal growth and self-awareness. Drawing from endurance sports, somatic practices, nature and transformational coaching, she helps others navigate life's challenges with resilience, trust, and embodied presence.