Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?
Community. The word community has taken on new meaning for me in the last ten months. I have worked somewhat unconsciously, though with great intention, towards defining that word and its place in my world. It has been four years since I have had to think of my own interpretation of that word. As a Resident Director a person is thrown into a community: a group of individuals who live, essentially, the same kind of life, attend the same meetings, work towards similar goals, and spent hours upon hours toiling to help others build community. A sense of place. A sense of ownership and belonging. An environment in which everyone’s humanity is equally respected and celebrated. Sounds great, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t know. I spent so much time trying to help others build that all important sense of community that I neglected and even actively ignored building a community for myself. I existed as a Resident Director. I found support where I could with my colleagues, and it was plentiful, but I never took the time to define what community means to me. And I certainly didn’t make nurturing my own community a priority.
I have learned and am learning to become a nurturer of other people’s communities and needs and also of my own. I actively work within my community, but I also prioritize taking time for myself with my friends and family.
I got so used to giving, and building, and achieving, that I forgot how to rest, be calm, and accept.
Now, I call my mother at least once a day. I make sure I check in with my brother on a weekly basis. I call my grandparents. I keep touch with friends from all sectors of my life. I walk my dog and chase him around the house. I make time to visit with my neighbor.
I’m learning how to create, within myself, a holistic sense of community.
