Our bodies form distributed organisms together. So it is that those we are closest to… animals, plants and insects… and those humans we are physically and emotionally ‘closer’ to… each person’s body helps the bodies of the others with situations that arise. When we are close with others, identity becomes blurry. It’s no longer me and them. It us. All of nature has always been this way, but our people are deeply confused about this because we tend to think in terms of individuals and ‘me’.

In our t’ai chi practice, when we are ‘pushing hands’, we are healing each other because we love one another deeply. So we are using our bodies as a distributed organism even though each ‘one’ of us is still apparently distinct. If someone unbalances their partner, that same person who overcame their balance… immediately restores it. Catching them and restoring balance so they do not fall.

In families both health and its shadows are distributed. With lovers, especially those who are deeply bonded, their bodies are constantly forming new ways to be in union. Our bodies help each other when we are truly together. This has always been known, but our modern ideas barely take notice of this. And we have representations of being together… instead of actually being with and for each other.

It struck me how important this is as I am in situations in which my own health affects the health of others I care about. Or maybe all others, but particularly those close to me. I was simply somehow remembering that much of what it means to be human is only really discovered when we live with and for each other, even if the experience is brief; but especially when this is part of our common experience. Being together. With and for each other. Always.