Interconnectivity | Part II

What is interconnectivity? Interconnectivity is the collective ties that bring a diverse set of beings together, weaving unique threads of various experiences into one woven patchwork of ideas and identity which become culture.

Part I: pornceptual.com/interconnectivity/

Photography by Rob Woodcox
Instagram: @robwoodcoxphoto
Website: www.robwoodcox.com

Over the last 8 years my passion for photography and extreme curiosity of the world has taken me to all 50 US states and over 20 countries around the world. At first that sounds exhausting, and perhaps like I was in a rush; however one of my top priorities when booking a trip elsewhere is to give myself the time and space to truly experience a new location and culture as much as possible. The minimum amount of time I’ll typically spend in a new place is a full week, with my goal to be at least a month. For this reason I’ve spent a good majority of three recent years living abroad. In that time I’ve witnessed some of the most compelling differences in culture; from the chaotic tuk tuk traffic in Delhi to humble Sherpa villages framed by Mount Everest; from the alien bare landscapes of Iceland to the towering redwoods of California; from brilliant and boisterous Semba dances in Brazil to organized quiet crowds in Tokyo. Every place leaves its mark on the world, establishing a reputation to create individuality. 

However eye opening my experiences have been abroad, the time spent absorbing each culture eventually leads to a sense of normalcy; after so much time spent anywhere, I begin in some sense to feel at home. Though outward appearance offers the initial thrill of color, smell and all around sensory overload, eventually the sun goes down, meals are shared, conversation is had, and I form a bond with whoever I’m being housed by. The normalcy of being a human and having needs starts to bring me closer to those around me, and our outward differences don’t keep us from sharing friendship or even love. 

A long life of experience still lies ahead, however I’m certain without a doubt that we all stem from the same origins, and our every day experiences are more dependent on each other than we often acknowledge.  Our choices to exert positive or negative actions create a wave that inevitably affects those around us. With that realization, I believe a responsibility falls on each of our shoulders to care for one another and to elevate those around us who cannot elevate themselves. One break in the chain puts more strain on the rest- it falls on each one of us to unite and provide the support needed by people around us. We are all connected by that thread, the question is will we continue to cut ties or repair the patchwork that creates a beautiful planet for us to share. 
– Rob Woodcox