While they discussed mundane things from back home, sports teams and regional colloquialisms, the idea of “connection” came to mind. In a country far from home, my work-friend’s ears perked to the vibration of similarity.

Thirteen years ago, after moving to British Columbia, local friends teased me about being a cowgirl from cow town (Calgary), which couldn’t be further from the truth. Alberta is known for its farms and cowboys, but I veered toward the dance/pop crowd.

In this “far away land,” one province over, I suddenly developed a fondness for country music, even started singing it while driving alone in my car. It was partly due to my defiant streak, but, surely I was missing home.

Someone recently told me a story of visiting a psychiatric unit with a group of people. One of the patient’s was wearing a red shirt and, for whatever reason, was drawn to a visitor who also wore a red shirt. Winding through halls, the patient linked arms with the visiting wearer of red, as the group toured the ward.

I imagine it must have been awkward for anyone witnessing the event.

Was it simply because of the connection — sharing the same color of garment which put the patient at ease?

Some say we are a complex species and yet our needs are basic.

Numerous examples come to mind, even in the last couple days, of people reaching out to something . . . anything, which feels remotely acquainted. Why is this? Is it merely part of our nature? Or is it an indication of loneliness?

Where is the line that defines natural proclivity and unhealthy attachment?

Perhaps more socially accepted, but no less detrimental, are unstable relationships, whether they be because of a disproportion of equality or an imbalanced mental state in one or both parties. Dare I say, those who cannot find comfort in themselves will assume it, superficially, through others?

Everyone is looking for connection. It is a human need. What if it’s the source of connection that dictates the line?

It was their belief that the dancers were infused with the spirits of beyond, who took over their bodies and prompted them to move. Having faces covered advanced this illusion.

This reminds me of mascots at sporting events that jiggle and gyrate to rouse a crowd.

Most often people danced to thank the Gods for their blessings. It was done as an offering, or a prayer, when asking for a bountiful harvest, help with fertility, or to protect their community from any number of possible dooms. They danced when people died, when they were born, or before they were to begin a building project.

Bottom line, rhythmic movement has always been a beloved ritual to motivate, inspire, and connect with the spirits.

Religions today have rituals as well. I have always appreciated the cross drawn over the chest by Catholics, or the way many kneel to pray. My religion, although it’s awesome, has no such practices. I think that is because we know that a ritual is not necessary to connect to God. Still, I recognize the importance of doing physical things to show respect.

But what if these acts could help link you to the beyond? What if they could bring about good fortune?

Wiccans chant poetic and sometimes silly rhymes, over symbolic earth elements, calling them spells to alter life’s circumstances. Despite mainstream society’s lack of belief in magic, why do some still practice?

These examples span thousands of years, and perhaps even opposite ends of the holy spectrum, yet they have something in common. All demonstrate a deliberate, physical act, to reach out to something outside ones selves.

What I want to know is, who gave these people the idea that any of this would be beneficial to their problems?

Someone must have started it all.

Can anyone do it?

Can I?

Well, I am feeling out of sorts. Things are just not working out as I would like them too.

I have started projects, and thought I had done a respectable, even an outstanding amount of prep work, and still nothing.

Do you ever feel like you are so close, but somehow how miles away from where you need to be?

What if the only problem was that all of your efforts were slightly out of sync? What if you did have everything you needed, but those labours where jumbled on top of each other?

All you would need to do was shake them up and let them settle into place – align in perfect harmony to manifest your perfect outcome.

I propose that everyone who feels unaligned should dance like they were infused with the spirits.

Turn up the music, wave your arms, and leap around where you are.

Shimmy and shake your life in to place.

Think it won’t work?

What the hell do you have to lose?

People all over the world believe stranger things.

Just do it.

Wear a mask if it pleases you.

And let me know how it pans out.

It’s my own fault really. I knew that walking on the left side of the mall’s interior would bring me face to face with those beauty vultures. I am usually careful to cross the the other side for that stretch, but my mind was on other things.

I was in a pretty crappy mood. So I suppose in an attempt to temper myself, I allowed the sales woman to go through her pitch, bring me into the salon, and set me in her “Queen” chair, as she called it.

She instantly informed me of several things that were wrong with my face. My eyes are puffy, there is a small blemish, “probably a sun spot,” she says, below my brow, and my skin is a tad shiny. Naturally, she had miracle lotions, serums, and ointments to save my hideous face.

I quickly informed her that my eyes were puffy because I was drinking excessively the night before. My skin is shiny because it’s healthy, and I just gave myself a papaya facial. Finally, the mark on my brow is a busted vein. I got while in labour with my second child. I thought about being blunter, but decided less was more.

I have a soft voice, so people don’t always know immediately when I’m annoyed. This was apparent by her next question. ”How old are you?”

Knowing she would not answer, I asked her, “How old do I look?”

If she guessed too high, she would risk offending me. If too low, she would ruin her chances of making me fear my own mortality. Because let’s face it, that’s what it boils down too. Beauty and health equal survival in the animal kingdom. The more I see of the world, the more cognizant I become of how primitive some of us can be.

Cleverly, she sidesteped with, “you look really good. Do you work out too?”

I laughed inside…and out.

So after she applied her magical creams to one of my eyes, she handed me a magnified mirror.

“Do you see how much better that looks?” she asks.

Sure, I thought, but you would get the same result from any cream that hasn’t yet absorbed into the skin.

I just nodded and hoped the under-the-microscope experiment was almost over.

“After all that I have showed you,” vulture lady asked, “do you think you would find these products beneficial in your home?”

“No,” I said, “I only use natural products to cleanse and moisturise my skin.”

“Our products are all natural,” she assured.

“Can you eat them?” I asked.

“No.”

“Then they are not natural,” I replied.

At this point I wanted to verbally tear her apart. I wanted to say, what the hell is your problem lady? Why are you supporting this industry that looks for faults in women and exploits their fears? Why aren’t you using your talent for persuasion to build people up?

I wanted to give her a lecture on the trauma a woman’s body receives when creating and having children. Not only are they ripped apart, they get scarred permanently on almost every part of their body. And the amount of vitamins and minerals that are siphoned away during this process is staggering.

How many life altering beauty creams are there for men?

Are there any?

Who is driving this industry? And why do some women mindlessly perpetuate the problem?

Although I am rather lippy, and was in a bad enough mood to do so, I said none of this.

Ultimately, I love and respect most women, and I wanted to leave her with her dignity.

Instead, I write to get over my frustration. And I pray that all of the ladies in the world know beautiful and amazing they are. But of course they don’t. And that’s a major problem.