Creating Your Own Community
20 Jul 2009 ~ Categories: blog • eco-living • mind • wellness
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our burgeoning cyber-communities: Facebook, Twitter, email, IMing. Never in my life have I had such a rich social life spanning so many time zones and cultures. Closer than ever in some ways and farther apart in other ways. Connected by information and data, but often missing the intimacy and real human connection.
I talk to friends and relatives on many corners of the planet on a regular basis and at all times of day. And almost unanimously people say that the most practical invention of this era, and my lifetime, is the internet.
I guess I am lucky, because I like to write and taking care of things via email is a natural tactic. But often, something is lost in translation. When it comes down to it, there’s nothing like body language, or a nuanced word, or even just good old eye contact. Be careful. Internet communication can become yet another TO DO list that has the potential of pulling us away from our individual path and priorities.
Because of our ability to communicate with multiple people at a time, work from home and transact deals so efficiently with the touch of our fingers, we may lose sight of our actual physical communities. I think about about ways to keep the face-to-face in my life.
It might start with putting down the cell phone and getting out there. Or it might begin with shutting off the computer and being quietly with myself for a few minutes or even an hour or two. Maybe it’s taking the time to make eye contact with a neighbor. Stopping to chat. Asking them what’s up. And then really listening.
Community has long been considered a personal support system that can keep us afloat in hard times. (Thus the success of institutions like AA and so many religious organizations and groups.)
In today’s world in flux, community can serve as your bridge over troubled water, which just happens to be IO’s working mission for this current climate of change and turmoil. Last week we closed down business for our yearly IO Renewal Day to refresh the spirits of our team, build community, and renew the space we work and play in.
And provoking that sort of community by making more of an effort to interact with people in person, and with yourself in person, well, that’s what I call building a bridge to your better side.
With your eyes, your ears and your heart. It makes a difference.
Create community,
Amy
23 Jul 2009
Kim Walker
I like the photo of the candle holder… where can I find this?