Create a Personal Community
by Sally ~ March 25th, 2010. Filed under: creating a life you love, support.
Chinese Geese by Beth Parker http://bethparkerart.wordpress.com
Do you have your own personal community of kindred spirits who support and encourage you?
Do you surround yourself with people that you have a mutual admiration and connection with or do you do it all by yourself?
Many of us may live in crowded cities and towns but remain isolated in our daily lives.
Whether you are working at home or going to an office every day, you may find that you are lacking a deeper connection and interaction with others, especially those that share common bonds.
“A good friend is a connection to life- a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world” – Lois Wyse
It is important to seek each other out and to create your own personal community. They can help nurture and nourish you and serve your unique, individual needs as they change throughout your life.
It is unlikely that you will find one person that you share all the same feelings, opinions and aspects of your life.
You may have some people that you share your business expertise and concerns, your parenting tips and fears, or maybe your love of good food or mystery novels.
Sharing resources is just one benefit of creating your own community.
What is even more important is the feeling of belonging, truly connecting with others and making a difference for them and yourself.
It can be a real comfort to know you are not alone and to find out how someone else handled a similar situation.
Connecting with kindred spirits and others who we can give our support and encouragement and receive the same gift from them is an essential part of our human experience.
It can be a place where you feel safe and can talk about the things that are important to you.
With the ease of technology, we don’t even have to be in the same state or country to connect with others who share our interests, concerns, and passions in life.
What areas in your life do you need the compassion and connection with others? Where might you find them?
March 25th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
You are so right about the importance of community, Sally.
I live in a small town, so I have an online art community I am a part of. My friends at WetCanvas are like a group of people I have known forever. They support me in my goals and applaud my successes. I can’t imagine trying to grow in the art world without that community. Art is quite a solitary undertaking, most days. I also have my blogging community, which I have been nurturing. It helps me to feel that I belong in the bigger picture, if that makes sense.
Here in my small town, I have a group of women who get together once a month, to have dinner and drinks. Although not as supportive of my career endeavors, they are still essential to my overall well being. I think we need to relax and laugh, too. I spent way too much time taking myself seriously.
Great post, Sally. Thanks for using my Chinese Geese, too.
March 25th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Beth,
Thanks, not only for sharing you wonderful art for my readers, but for your comments about having an online as well as offline community.
I think it is so important to know you are in company of people who care about you.
I think WE ALL need to step back and remember not to take ourselves so seriously all the time.
Thanks, Beth!
April 9th, 2010 at 11:56 am
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