Why do we humans need to connect?

“The more we get together …The happier we’ll be… ‘Cause your friends are my friends …. And my friends are your friends ..”

I heard this children’s song which was written and sung by Raffi, a Canadian children’s singer and it made me think about why we humans need to get together and connect. I know that there is a pandemic and most places where we used to gather are closed here in Ontario and most of Canada.

I had a debilitating stroke in 2005 and moved from my house to an apartment. I live alone but rarely feel lonely and I’ve been thinking about why that is.

Maybe it’s because I need a lot of physical help and had several people who came in to help me. Before the pandemic, there were only three days a week that I was alone and had no human contact. Once or twice a week, I would take a taxi to go to a local restaurant to meet a friend for coffee or lunch. I belonged to a few networking groups who met in person.

The pandemic means that I don’t go out now and allow fewer people into my apartment only for essentials. There are now more days a week that I’m alone but … I still belong to a networking group that meet every two weeks, my mastermind once a month, a woman in France every Friday – all via zoom!

Recently, I was flipping channels on my TV, and ….

…. came across a show about a man who travelled alone, by a Volkswagen beetle, from Alaska to Argentina to learn why humans need connections. In each town he started by asking individuals if he could stay at their house that night. Many said no so he kept asking until he got a yes.

One of the towns he stopped at was Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. He had heard that we Canadians are known for our friendliness so he asked someone in a shop there where he could go to find the most friendly person in town. She directed him to an Immigrants Welcome Centre where he was told the name of that individual and where he could find him.

To make a long story short, the man he was introduced to held barbeque get-togethers every Wednesday evening for immigrants – newcomers to Canada. At the end of the episode, the guests there sang “The More We Get Together”. It made me smile.

Many of those who have come here are from war-torn countries, immigrant camps, persecution or to flee attacks or kidnapping and usually have nothing.

If they can find a way to be happy, why can’t we?

The following are the lyrics to “The More We Get Together” by Raffi. And if you want to sing along to the song, here’s the link on youtube.

The more we get together
Together, together
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be

‘Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be
Oh, the more we get together
Together, together
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be
There’s Chris and Tanya
And Jason and Justin
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be

The more we get together
Together, together
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be

‘Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be

Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Ken Whiteley / Raffi Cavoukian / Unknown Pd Writer; The More We Get Together lyrics © The Bicycle Music Company