Living Fully NOW: Why Community Matters

Living Fully NOW: Why Community Matters

There was a time in my life when my life felt naturally full. Not because everything was perfect. It wasn’t. Not because I had more money. Being a college student, I most certainly didn’t have any money. And it wasn’t because life was easier. It was because I was surrounded by people.

     I’ve never really considered myself a “people person,” but back then there were friends to hang out with seemingly all the time, places to go, things to do…you know. I never thought about building community because I was living in it.

     Then I officially became “grown,” years passed, and life changed.

     I had a career, a couple of marriages, a couple of divorces, a couple of children. I moved. My closest friends each moved to different cities. Responsibilities multiplied. Somewhere along the way, some of us…I…unconsciously traded community for convenience, connection for productivity, and belonging for busyness.

     We all became “independent.”

     And while independence can be a beautiful thing, it was never meant to replace community. We all need community. We all need connection.

     Healthy community doesn’t mean having dozens of friends or filling every evening with social events.  It means having people who know you, spend time with you (in person, phone, etc), celebrate your victories, encourage your growth, and remind you that you don’t have to navigate life alone.

     Community nourishes us in ways we often don’t recognize until it’s missing. It motivates us to take better care of ourselves. It gives us people to share our joys with and shoulders to lean on during difficult seasons. It stretches our thinking, expands our perspectives, and reminds us that we belong.

     I’ve noticed something in my own life. When I’m connected to people who inspire me, I naturally become more consistent. I exercise more. I laugh more. I go out more. I have more fun. I’m more creative. I try new things.

     Healthy community doesn’t just make life more enjoyable, it helps us become better versions of ourselves.

     If you’ve been feeling lonely, disconnected, or like your world has become smaller than you’d like, you’re not alone. Many women reach a season where they realize they must become intentional about rebuilding the very thing that once happened naturally – community.

     The good news is, community can be created or recreated. Sometimes it begins with simply sending a text. Sometimes it begins with joining a walking group, volunteering, taking a class, attending Bible Study, or saying yes to an invitation you would normally decline.

     Every meaningful friendship starts with one conversation.

     Where can YOU build community in this season of your life now?

     Don’t wait for community to find you. Take one small action this week toward finding your people that will help your life feel more lived. Your future self will thank you.

Until next time...Root. Rise. Reign.