Reflections

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  1. Robin Ann

    My son recently spoke about community and finding more for himself. For me I have my faith community, my work community in which I have worked almost 10 years and a small yachting community that my friend belongs to. I also attend a lot of library events at a couple of local libraries and hope to make some repeat connections. My Medical plan added a Blue store for exercise classes close to my new home and I started attending some classes. I also joined a volunteer group in the last few months and hope to get more involved with that. This is something I do need to work on though. Trying to have more local friends/connections.

    3 months ago
  2. Ben

    I love my friends, my teammates, my family and my wife. I love connecting with them when we are together and connecting with them when we are apart, and I am thinking about them.
    I love the feeling of us all being one in the universe.

    3 months ago
  3. Dolores Kazanjian

    It wasn’t until the pandemic that I realized how important community is to me. Between my own health issues and the death of many groups due to the pandemic, most of our usual communities are no longer available. An important new community are the wonderful folks who help us with the business of living – I call them my guardian angels. And, of course, there is this wonderful community. I like Barb’s idea of a zoom meeting for our group. Gratefulness.org, are you listening?

    3 months ago
    1. Yram

      I would welcome that! Thank you for the idea.

      3 months ago
  4. Avril

    I feel fortunate to be part of several communities. They all overlap in the quest to know the Divine. Within these larger communities of my church, and my lineage, I’ve dug in deeper into smaller groups where I’ve gotten the pleasure of getting to know people more intimately. Those relationships help me with my accountability to my practices, and as a way to experiment with compassion and patience. The further I go along my path and more I really just want to spend time with other Ernest seekers such as yourselves.

    3 months ago
  5. Anna

    Since I changed my negative attitude to a more grateful one, I enjoyed being in community.
    I think everyone needs a community, more or less, it mainly depends on the basic character. But my experience taught me that I needed a change of perspective, and to free myself from the old, heavy and imposed habits that kept me away from the pleasure of being part of a group.
    Like Don, now I belong to communities of practice (choir, tennis, this site) and I am grateful.

    3 months ago
  6. Don Jones

    I feel community provides enrichment through support and encouragement, perhaps a fellowship. I belong to a few communities of practice (like this one) but also have a curiosity about fostering communities of interest.

    3 months ago
  7. Charlie T

    I didn’t realize how important being
    part of a community was. I tended to
    think of it as a burden. It was something
    that was always there, and it required
    participation and a loss of anonymity.
    Just like that song, ya don’t miss it till it’s gone.
    For me, community means being connected.
    And apparently, this is something I need.
    So staying connected and reaching out
    has become my thing. It requires effort, but
    the rewards are many.

    3 months ago
  8. Barb C

    Community enriches my life in many ways. As others have said, this space is a genuine community. If they announced we were having a live gathering or a Zoom session for us I’d be there with bells on.
    I’m part of an online women’s community created by the leader of HoneyInTheTemple.com. This arose during the early pandemic and it has meant so much to me to connect with women there in practices around movement, meditation, and exploration of practices that connect us to our bodies, hearts, and minds. We’ve started talking about holding a live gathering or retreat of some kind. When people talk about how awful the online “world” can be I think of this space and that one and I know these spaces are what we make of them by how we bring ourselves into them.
    I’ve been fortunate enough to live in places long enough to develop wide networks and to feel very connected. We moved to where we are now in Olympia, WA, both for my job and also to have time to develop those community ties in the place we plan to stay for the rest of our lives. A dear friend has been especially helpful in inviting me into her social circle and that’s a great start. Our little neighborhood is very friendly and that helps as well. I haven’t yet done much of the kind of volunteer service I did for years in other hometowns that gave me the satisfaction of know I was contributing, and I intend to seek that out.
    Another community that has meant a lot to me over the years is that of people who ride bikes. A nod, a wave, a smile as we pass each other acknowledges that we have the love of something in common. If I see someone on a bike stopped by the road ahead I’ll ask if they need anything and others have done the same for me. That’s not the same as knowing people by name and considering them friends but it’s very real as an element of community. That’s been true everywhere I’ve lived since I became a regular rider.
    I often go back to one hometown in particular to see family and one of my best friends. The connections there live on 13 years after we moved from there and I value that.

    3 months ago
  9. Kevin

    I have three basic communities that are important in my life beyond my family. One is my Quaker faith community, another is my rowing rowing community, and a third are the folks at a local gym who live locally, whom I’ve known for decades in various capacities. Each of these settings enrich my life in various ways.

    3 months ago
  10. Nannette

    This is the only Community that I am really a part of. As many of you may remember; I live in a very rural area of W.V. Although I have now lived here for 20 years , I cannot say that I am or feel a part of any community. We do not have any close by neighbors- although I know that if needed I could call on any of them for assistance…but that is the relationships – help in need.
    This Community of Grateful Living is an important part of my daily life…I look forward to reading everyone’s thoughts and learning from all of you. When someone is not here for a few days…I worry for their well being. With that said…my husband and I are getting ready to travel in our motorhome for the winter months. We leave tomorrow– so I may be a bit sporadic for the next few months…depending if we have cell/internet service. We like to boondock…and in the next two weeks one of our destinations is the National Forest in Florida…so we will be without service. Thank you all for this community!!

    3 months ago
    1. Michele

      Safe travels to you, your husband and pets Nannette! Wishing you some beautiful new magical memories.

      3 months ago
    2. Robin Ann

      Safe travels! I look forward to hearing about your trip when you are back on-line : )

      3 months ago
    3. Joseph McCann

      May you and your husband (& Clancy?) experience a safe and peaceful journey Nannette.

      3 months ago
    4. Ben

      Your trip sounds increadible, enjoy the time and the nature,

      3 months ago
    5. Pilgrim

      Have a wonderful trip, Nannette! Enjoy the National Forest and all of your other stops along the way. I look forward to reading of your adventures when you are back online.

      3 months ago
  11. Yram

    Through the years I have been in many communities. Some were small, some larger, some established, and some I initiated. All seem to have given me stability, support, challenges, and a chance to grow.

    3 months ago
  12. sunnypatti

    It enriches my life by allowing me to be a part of something outside of my home, although the only community I really feel a part of is inside my home as I sit and type here on this website. I love our country home and the land we live on, but it’s definitely not the same as living in a neighborhood where we can walk the dogs down the street and meet people along the way. People pretty much stick to themselves out here. Our business has allowed me to meet people, and I appreciate that, but we are actively looking for a church to join to find our part in a community.

    3 months ago
  13. Mary Mantei

    Community often brings me joy. I learn, I am inspired, I laugh. Community brings out our dimensions we may not often realize. It gets me outside of myself and often offers the opportunity to be of service in some way.

    I am aware that I hesitate to commit to “community”. Perhaps it’s selfishness with my time, or my independent nature. I am also aware that when I do commit, my life really is better. An ongoing dance for me.

    3 months ago
  14. Michele

    Community enriches my life by feeling like you are a part of a group and having a sense of belonging.
    Happy National Spaghetti Day and National Trivia Day! Have fun with those!

    3 months ago
    1. Anna

      I have never known about spaghetti day, dear Michele! By the way, for dinner I cooked “spaghetti and pesto”, they have been so appreciated!!😉

      3 months ago
      1. Michele

        yum!

        3 months ago
  15. Carla

    Participating in Community expands my ability to complete tasks in many ways! It means extra hands helping with seasonal yard work and shoveling. A team of three to coordinate rides to PT during past knee replacements. A phone list of others willing to go to any lengths to drive me or offer rides to others for spirituality study groups. In my twenties Community meant living with others studying the Rule of St Francis. When I’m interactive in a community setting I’m offered dozens of mirrors reflecting back to me my own “flaws” of human nature and the opportunity to practice different behaviors to change me and how I react to life.

    3 months ago
    1. Barb C

      Thinking of others as mirrors reflecting us back to ourselves–love this. We receive back the energy we put out.

      3 months ago
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