September has been a meaningful month. Deaf Awareness Month brings more visibility to Deaf people, American Sign Language, Deaf culture, accessibility, and the many ways Deaf people contribute to our communities. As September comes to a close, I have been thinking about what continues beyond the month itself.

One image keeps coming back to me: our two hands.

Usually, one hand is stronger or used more often, while the other hand supports, balances, or helps complete an action. They have different roles, but both are important. Most importantly, they are connected. One does not need to become the other for them to work together.

I think about the individual and the collective in a similar way. Each of us has our own identity, experiences, ideas, responsibilities, and strengths. Knowing who you are, what you believe in, what you contribute, and where your center is matters. At the same time, community gives us connection. We support each other, learn from each other, collaborate, and sometimes see things from a perspective we could not see on our own.

It is not about choosing the individual or the collective. We need both, just like we need both hands.

Sometimes being part of a community can pull our attention in many directions. That makes returning to our own center important. Being centered does not mean disconnecting from others. It means knowing where you stand while remaining connected to the people around you.

That is also how I think about Deaf Awareness Month. September may bring more attention to Deaf people, ASL, Deaf culture, accessibility, and visibility, but when September ends, awareness and connection continue. They are not limited to one month on a calendar.

This September, I experienced many of those connections through visual art, video art, ASL, exhibitions, conversations, and collaborations. I am grateful for the people who shared those experiences with me. Now, as the month comes to a close, I am also reminding myself to return to my own center: my art, my studio, my ideas, and why I create.

The individual matters, and the collective matters. Like our two hands, they can have different roles and different strengths while remaining connected.

Remember your own center, and remember the other hand. We need both.