One important part of making our time more meaningful and fulfilling involves reclaiming a sense of community. In counseling people who are trying to experiencing extreme work-related stress or angst, I notice that many people feel they’ve lost touch with this important connection, as well as with their own sense of direction. They find themselves in a “rut,” not knowing where to even look for community connections or how to expand their circle of acquaintances and friends.
We all have our personal preferences for how we like to socialize, and not everyone can or should be the neighborhood social planner…yet I’ve found that for myself, it’s essential to attempt some connection with the people in my immediate neighborhood. It invites opportunities for spontaneous connection, lets us learn some interesting local stories, and helps us feel more welcome and protected at home.
That’s why I loved the recent recommendation from New American Dream to bake cookies for a neighbor. It’s also why last December, I distributed invitations to everyone on my block for a holiday open house – about 25 people showed up, and it was a wonderful opportunity to meet many of my neighbors.
If you’re feeling that cultivating community might be just what you need, it won’t be helpful to think of it as one more task on your to-do list. Instead, consider it a way to break up the hurried routine, a chance to actually slow down and give yourself permission to “just be” for a few minutes as you chat with your neighbor about the weather or stop to pet someone’s dog.
A bit farther afield from the neighborhood are citywide opportunities. I often recommend that people find an in-person group in their town through Meetup.com and, for people in Denver, consider taking a class at Colorado Free University or making some connections at a community-oriented coffee house such as the Wash Perk.
I’d love to hear how you have helped foster community and what this sense of community has done for your spirits and for your stress levels.
