Text: Riikka Linnanmäki
Translation: Sirkka-Liisa Leinonen
Face-to-face interaction enables many sensory experiences that are never present in virtual communication. The 2022 Summer Services stared my wonderful July. It seems my cup has been overflowing for many days, and I am really grateful for that! The wonderful people that I met at the Summer Services made my extrovert heart blossom.
I recently discussed happiness with some friends. We agreed that there is no reason to hide one’s happiness, nor should we think that someone may feel bad seeing us happier than them. Ultimately, we are only responsible for our own feelings. If we take care of ourselves, proactively if possible, that makes it possible to feel happy. And happiness increases when it is shared.
Many things are shared in social media these days. I think we should not only show the polished side or our lives. I have received positive feedback for this attitude.
But I am sure July 2022 would not have been such a wonderful month if all my interactions had been on the social media. Virtual meetings can never replace the good feeling of being able to hug someone, the opportunity to enjoy the presence of others, the smiles, the gestures and expressions, and the great joy we feel when we happen to see a dear person at a distance and can run up to him or her.
How about you? Did you find meeting people easy? Or did you prefer to avoid such meetings? Or do you not have anybody to meet?
There have been discussions about loneliness in concrete solitude and also about loneliness experienced in crowds. I remember that when I was younger, I had a hard time walking alone to a meeting place in Summer Services and other big services. “Do the others think I am a poor creature all alone? Is my expression terribly sad?” Such were my thoughts.
I remember a presentation where the speaker said that when a person has roots, they have come to terms with themselves and feel they do not always need to be with someone else. I was happy to realize that I did not mind mixing with people by myself at these services. Though truth to tell, I was not alone for much of the time. I had my dear family along, and some of my close friends were staying in the same part of the service area.
I hope that especially the young people who have moved to a new locality will be invited to participate in the local activities and to visit local believers. We can pray that the Heavenly Father would give us an open mind to interact with people of all ages and national backgrounds.
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