As we have moved around the world, we have always managed to create a community or family of friends. They have been vital to survive and enjoy each place we have lived in through the ups and downs. Some have disappeared due to lack of connection or personal situations but many are still in our life and it would be amazing if all lived within an easy train, plane or car trip. With our New York couple, we have promised to try to see each other every year if possible. Our French neighbours from our first time in France still keep in touch after fifteen years. There are Berlin friends who we often see in the summer or chat with on a Sunday evening around our passion of music and the arts. Now in the South of France, we have a ‘family’ of seven people dear to us who have quickly become our sounding board, support team and anything else needed. As we sell up to move back to our home city, they have offered ‘a bedroom for life’ and we in turn, have promised to try to return every second year if possible or for them to make the long journey to visit our place. Others are looking to the future return to the same city as us and are excited and relieved that we will have moved there first and that after twenty years, we will be in the same place again. This is what a real community is about and it needs attention, dedication and kindness to tenderly honour it.
Feng Shui Conversation
The sector of Family, Community and Health is on the left hand side of the Bagua map and the key colour is a forest green and the element is Wood. When I recall the different places we have lived in, those apartments were there is a dining room or living area seem to be the time when our community has grown and thrived. We have an old wooden farm table in pear wood that is often admired and it has been the centre of many a dinner or party and has also been my office space to take calls and attend meetings. The colours used have included coffee, ivory and a hint of green and the element of stone or we have gone full out and used tropical green and blue to create a sense of growth and friendship.
If you have read previous posts, Fire is best avoided as it burns the Wood energy and Metal as well which cuts down Wood. If your kitchen is in this sector of course Fire is represented in the stove and cooktop and there will be some metal in most kitchens but that can be balanced by ensuring that the colours and other elements dominate the area. If you have a bathroom in this sector, don’t panic, reduce the element of Water as this represents emotion. You can look up the posts on Bathrooms and you will see that Wood and Earth can reduce this aspect.
The Relationship Corner
Often a sector has another connection area and in this case, the Relationship corner is also important. Try to balance both and we have often found our friends have also come through an interest in food and cooking. Relationships are not just your closest person but also about your ‘tribe’ or communities that you belong to. If nothing else, we have learnt over the years that these bubbles of friendship are so important and have continued often due to a shared passion.
Travel & Helpful People
How often have you found that person at the needed moment who has supported you or professionally helped you through a difficult moment? I can think of lawyers, doctors, leaders and anyone who has offered a solution for an issue. We recently helped English speaking people who had missed their French train connection. There was obvious relief when we spoke enough French to the train company to get information and to let them know to take the next train and use the same ticket. They were heading north and missing another train would have upset their holiday plans. It is all about connecting and cherishing those moments and people.
Final Thoughts
So as we have a Sunday birthday afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes, champagne and tea, we raise a glass or cup to friendship, understanding and kindness I recall that Loose Wyse said, “A good friend is a connection to life — a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.”
