I wanted to take an opportunity to change gears from the typical talk of daily things to something more ubiquitous; the need for community. I believe as humans, we all desire and thrive when we have a feeling of being connected. There significant evidence to show that isolation leads to mental and emotional compromise and while there is a spectrum of need, introversion to extroversion, and individual tolerance for people, people need people. The time we spend, the hormones that are released during mutual enjoyment, conversations, physical touch and arguments, the differences in working alone vs working on a team, playing team sports; the examples are endless in the ways we interact with others and how that makes us feel and how it shapes our health and wellness.
We have family, friends, work associates, classmates, and significant others. We have short term relationships, acquaintances, deep relationships, lifelong partners in our journey and people we only see for a blip in time then they are gone. For the latter, a simple smile or head nod can make the difference in changing both their mood and ours. Asking a co-worker about how their ill family member is doing or a classmate how they did on the exam they were stressing about. It all lets us know we are cared for and someone is thinking of us, which in and of itself is a special feeling. I believe a big part of living is knowing we are not alone in our trials, our celebrations, our changes. We have a support system here on earth to supplement our main support from God.
A practical way to strengthen and nourish our relationships that has come to me often as an opportunity is to reach out to family, friends and associates. When I’m diving in the car or lounging around and someone comes to mind, I try to remember to text or call that person. We live in an age of this double edged sword of technology, where people are now a click or tap away but also have never been so distant. We can reach out the them more easily then ever before but are simultaneously distracted by so much other chaos. When I do follow through with the above, it is rarely been unfruitful. Most of the time, people are ecstatic to hear from you, want to catch up, and appreciate the connection.
It is even better in person. Just recently, I got to know a friend better on a car ride. We drove 3 hours each way and talked most of the time. We share common interests but also got to know each other better through simple back and forth conversation, laughing, joking, and enjoying. It felt like a familiar but also rare conversation of just being connected to another human in a way that is hard to describe but you know it when you feel it. You cherish the moment and have gratitude for the sense of life and happiness within those moments. I pray and hope that you take those opportunities to find and foster your community in your homes and with friends in any sense you find meaningful.
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