Thu 28 Jan 2010
Where I live & Community
Posted by Amanda under General, Growing, Homesteading, Musings
[3] Comments
I have always had the good fortune of living in a beautiful place. And I have chosen where I live because of the beauty. It is more important to me to live in a beautiful place than to earn more money, or obtain a higher education, or be near the right shops and services.
But there is something more important to me than living in a beautiful place. Community. I believe firmly that I have to seek out community, create it, participate and enrich as much as possible. I have been struggling with this lately. Even though on Pender, I have made some very good friends, I am craving more community around me.
Anyone have any ideas of how to make this happen? I’m looking for a bit of a brainstorm.
Thank you, ahead of time, for your input!
January 29th, 2010 at 7:55 am
OK, first of all, those pictures. Geesh woman! I’m looking out my window at 1.5 feet of snow…
Hmm, how to create community? Well, for me, I know it begins with stretching myself. Getting out of my comfort zone. Going to places that perhaps I wouldn’t normally go. Striking up conversation with those I might not normally talk to. And eventually, I think all of that revovles around me making my life more available to others.
Rather than focusing on the perfect house, or the perfect hair-do (although seriously, I doubt I’ve ever come close to that), its more important for me to share my life with others. No matter how chaotic, disorganized or seemingly chaotic it may seem.
Some of my favorite moments included joining a friend on something as simple as a shopping trip, or running errands together. Or sipping coffee together while I fold my laundry and our children play. I think community must revolve around the simple things of life, because really, that’s what our life really boils down to…the simple, day-to-day stuff.
January 29th, 2010 at 9:16 am
I LOVE this subject, Amanda! So much that I wrote a Masters Thesis on it (speaking of higher education and place, I chose to do both my degrees in places that were calling me – and the latter in a place teeming with culture, diversity, it’s own special urban beauty, and energizing fun – Toronto).
But on to the meat of the subject itself: why we choose to live in certain places and how to be a part of (and/or to create) an inviting, stimulating community.
I think it’s really important to draw from personal experience and think about what your unique criteria for an ideal locale are. Is it culture and diversity, proximity to the ocean, alternative views, a thriving music and theatre scene, mix of ages, tight knit community? Do you want to be close to family and existing friends? Defining your criteria for a happy community is important. And if you thought you had it nailed but are feeling a little lost on Pender, ask why this is? Sometimes it has little to do with you but more to do with the place and it’s people – or vice versa.
In my experience the best PLACES to be are places that feel just right. You have a polar pull to them, and deep knowing that this is where you’re meant to be right now.
Having said that, I not sure you can really feel this if first you don’t feel quite settled and happy in your own skin. That is, doing what you love, living your best life, experiencing a higher calling, and feeling quite free and fulfilled in your daily endeavours. I think that when you’re in this state, people around you pick up on your positive, almost electric energy. You are drawn to activities naturally because you’re following an inner pull and when you shed any self-doubt and just go for it others are naturally drawn to you and vice versa.
I would argue, however that you certainly need both – love of place and it’s people, and love of self. I’ve found that when I’m living in places teeming with a fantastic energetic frequency and fascinating and artistic people, I am much more inspired to bring my own life into a rhythm which pushes me in new and exciting directions.
This, I believe, is the groundwork for the formation of community.
1- Living where you feel you need and want to be. And yes, being choosy if you can and keeping in mind the criteria you feel are important, but in the end just FEELING what feels right and going with it.
2- Loving yourself
3- Loving what you’re doing (and using your gifts) – with this in place you are emanating your own unique energetic frequency, charged from doing what you love
4- Sharing yourself with others
- in the literal sense (giving something back to the community, eg. selling your health-giving honey and sharing your beekeeping knowledge)
- and in the emotional sense (letting your guard down, revealing your beautiful soul, which is both glowing and raw)
When these things are in place, I think community comes quite naturally.
But I’d love to hear what others think, too!
January 29th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Holly: Those are great suggestions. Thank you for your comments.
Andrea: Wow you have thought about this and I appreciate your expertise greatly! I love what you said about the “polar-pull” I have definitely experienced that in my life before. I don’t know if Pender is offering that polar pull but I think I have some things to learn here first before I leave. I really have a sense that it’s not time for me to go yet. But I’m trying to stay open to where it is that I should be and what I should be aiming for.
I love your list. I think that I’m going to have to sit down this evening and explore what I think a healthy community looks like.