One of my favorite sources of community is Tuesday night dinner. Four of my friends and I--all with very distinct majors and interests--get together nearly every Tuesday night. We share our recent projects, interests, and struggles, and I regularly find myself doubled over in laughter over the course of the hour and a half (two if I'm lucky). From investigative journalism, to maps, to April Fool's pranks, I always leave dinner feeling lucky to have found such wonderful friends. The dependability of this plan and of these people is what makes me feel like I belong.
What keeps me connected to a particular community is having a common set of convictions or belief in something. These may be very high level, overarching beliefs but in some capacity there is a shared goal. In my case, one of my favorite communities is my paddling community. It started out small, with one dragon boat team near my home. However, the longer I paddled the more people I met and the larger the community became. I now belong to three dragon boat teams and one outrigger canoe team, and have raced on several teams in different states and Canada. I consider all of these women and men part of my paddling community, some of whom I have added to my “closest friends” list whether we are paddling or not.
"Because I have learned that community is about inviting other people to participate in your life. That we must create space for ourselves and others to be vulnerable, to be loved and embraced for who we are. And that by doing so, we give and receive in kind." What a good reminder of the tough but kind words my mom once shared with me: "You are robbing other people of friendship with you if you do not let them in."
I said that? Genius. ;) And it is true. Both friendship and community require vulnerability... admitting we need help, sharing an interest, showing someone our soft underbellies and risking rejection. And on the other side of vulnerability, there is nothing more life giving than a sense of shared purpose and a sense of belonging to one another. -Anita
My book club of women, of all ages, all across the US is one of my favorite parts of my community. We meet virtually, talk books and ideas and share our hearts for an hour every six weeks in a way that stays with me long after each session.
One of my favorite sources of community is Tuesday night dinner. Four of my friends and I--all with very distinct majors and interests--get together nearly every Tuesday night. We share our recent projects, interests, and struggles, and I regularly find myself doubled over in laughter over the course of the hour and a half (two if I'm lucky). From investigative journalism, to maps, to April Fool's pranks, I always leave dinner feeling lucky to have found such wonderful friends. The dependability of this plan and of these people is what makes me feel like I belong.
Love. We have done this same thing every Sunday with another family since 2009. Best weekly attitude adjustment ever.
What keeps me connected to a particular community is having a common set of convictions or belief in something. These may be very high level, overarching beliefs but in some capacity there is a shared goal. In my case, one of my favorite communities is my paddling community. It started out small, with one dragon boat team near my home. However, the longer I paddled the more people I met and the larger the community became. I now belong to three dragon boat teams and one outrigger canoe team, and have raced on several teams in different states and Canada. I consider all of these women and men part of my paddling community, some of whom I have added to my “closest friends” list whether we are paddling or not.
Such great reminders!
"Because I have learned that community is about inviting other people to participate in your life. That we must create space for ourselves and others to be vulnerable, to be loved and embraced for who we are. And that by doing so, we give and receive in kind." What a good reminder of the tough but kind words my mom once shared with me: "You are robbing other people of friendship with you if you do not let them in."
I said that? Genius. ;) And it is true. Both friendship and community require vulnerability... admitting we need help, sharing an interest, showing someone our soft underbellies and risking rejection. And on the other side of vulnerability, there is nothing more life giving than a sense of shared purpose and a sense of belonging to one another. -Anita
My book club of women, of all ages, all across the US is one of my favorite parts of my community. We meet virtually, talk books and ideas and share our hearts for an hour every six weeks in a way that stays with me long after each session.