Bound by Ties of Friendship

What does it mean to be bound by the ties of friendship? As members of Alpha Omicron Pi, we believe that it means we approach life through the lens of our ritual. We so often think of our Ritual in abstract terms when, in reality, it can have a very tangible impact on our lives. The perfect example of this is how we approach challenging conversations.

It seems only natural to approach challenges in our life by thinking about what we want to say, how we want to say it, and how we can best get across our point of view. Maybe you are someone who talks through conversations in your head, playing out possible scenarios. Maybe you write down what you don’t want to forget. Maybe you practice in a mirror to improve your own confidence. All of these can add value to the way we approach challenging conversations.

What if you added another layer to your preparation? What if you included a moment of self-reflection, using Ritual as your guide? Think about the impact of infusing the principles of love, tolerance, friendship, and kindness into your conversations.

Mentioned 266 times, love is at the heart of our Ritual. Stella George Stern Perry once shared that, “In a word, love moved us.” What if we framed our conversations and actions within the context of love? This is not always easy to do, but it can be tremendously beneficial in shifting the momentum of a difficult conversation in a positive direction.

Our Founders held very different beliefs across social and political spectrums. Despite these differences, they maintained a deep and abiding respect for one another. Their differences strengthened their understanding of one another and of the world around them. This is a beautiful demonstration of tolerance. What if we approached challenging situations with tolerance and a genuine thoughtfulness toward others?

Friendship is woven into the fabric of what it means to be an AOII. We know that our Founders maintained their friendship throughout their entire lives, quite literally. Talk about standing the test of time, and the changing landscape of society, throughout the decades. Their shared friendship demonstrated commitment, respect, and an appreciation for their differences. What if we approached challenging conversations with an appreciation for one another’s differences?

In addition to love, tolerance, and friendship, what if we also approached challenging situations through the lens of kindness? Is it possible that doing so would encourage more open and honest communication, without fear of judgment or retribution, ultimately leading to a more positive outcome? We believe the answer is yes.
So, the next time you find yourself facing a challenging conversation, we encourage you to frame your approach within the context of our Ritual. Just like our beautiful sheaf of wheat, bound by the ties of friendship, we are stronger together.

To learn more, please see the resources made available by the Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee.

Fraternally,

Crystal Grafton Combs, International Historian, Nu Beta (U of Mississippi)
Allison Allgier, RT&J Chairman, Epsilon Omega (Eastern Kentucky U)
Robin Beltramini, RT&J Committee, Iota (U of Illinois at Urbana Champaign)
Sarah Elliott, RT&J Committee, Delta Omega (Murray State U)
Molly Bennett, Ritual Education Ambassador, Chi Theta (Northeastern State U)

You may contact the Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee (RT&J) about anything Ritual-related at RT&J@alphaomicronpi.org