Reflections

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  1. Robin Ann

    Funny my son was just talking about this yesterday that he needs to find more “Community”. As for myself this group of course, I also belong to a Thrive support group for families that have an addicted love ones, my faith community at my church, my work community who does so much for the needy (I work for a Health company and I focus on the medicaid population). I also participate in a small yacht club on Narragansett Bay that my friend belongs to. Part of the membership is doing hours for events or maintenance of the small gathering building. I have met many wonderful folks that way as well.

    3 months ago
  2. O.Christina

    My family, of origin and the chosen, You here, my professional and heartfelt groups as one inside together, contributing in various ways, being there, accompanying to explore inner realms, taking care if needed or required, donate, join in to share some seeds of understanding or sometimes wisdom available together with kindred hearts.

    3 months ago
  3. Don Jones

    The woodworking community I participate in. I prefer fine woodworking and preservation and conservation of fine antiques. But having said that, the fine work in the traditional Japanese styles is also a delight. It is not a “chatty” community, but there is a quiet fellowship between people connected by a creative spirit. Oh, and of course, y’all.

    3 months ago
  4. Emmaleah

    This online community definitely brings me joy; I can help it thrive by contributing more often rather than just reading everyone’s responses.

    The community on the north shore of my island is often a source of joy. I contribute by doing outdoor education with kids in the community.

    3 months ago
  5. Barb C

    This one, of course! I come here every morning as part of my routine of reading poetry and having some time for reflection. I participate here and have donated to the site. Thank you to all of you for what you do to create this space and keep it thriving!

    Several writers I like have created genuine communities that draw readers who participate in lively comment spaces with love, compassion, and humor: Anne Helen Petersen, Virginia Sole-Smith, Meg Conley, Sarah Gailey. I participate there knowing that people engaging with each other is what creates and maintains the sense of community and helps it thrive. I love going to these places where I learn and where I might also get the chance to laugh out loud at something someone wrote.

    Riding my bike always makes me happy–the joy of being a kid again. When I ride I feel a sense of community with other people out riding. They feel it too–we wave, smile, say hello. (I can’t help but compare that with how some people driving treat each other.) I’m fortunate to be able to help that community thrive directly through my professional life, which arose out of years of volunteering as a bike advocate.

    For some communities I’m in, it’s helping them thrive that brings me joy, rather than the community bringing me joy so I then help them. I’m thinking of the agency I work for. We have a number of ways to participate in things that go beyond our core jobs. I participate in our diversity advisory group, I’m going to be mentoring someone from another division in the coming year, I always say yes to requests from colleagues who want to talk about their career growth. I’m actively involved in professional organizations. It may take a while for that work to produce actual joy, but when an official national publication comes out and I know it’s better because I participated in its development I know I’m making a difference and that brings me joy.

    3 months ago
  6. Yram

    There are so many. I am grateful for the faith communities I belong to. I help them thrive by participating in activities.
    I/we belong to a “sagers” group. I support this group by giving presentations.
    I/we belong to a Marriage Encounter group. We open our living space for meetings.
    Many groups and organizations that support education and supplying folks with basic needs, I support with prayer and material donations when I can.

    3 months ago
  7. Charlie T

    I’m not sure I can think of whole
    communities that bring me joy.
    I do enjoy being around people though.
    People with similar interests and Kind hearts.
    I would like to be involved with helping
    people who are suffering. Especially those
    with mental illness.
    My work schedule being what it is, makes this
    Impossible right now. I will hopefully have
    time in the future to do this kind of service.
    Until then, I will continue to be available
    to friends and neighbors who need a hand.

    3 months ago
  8. Avril

    OMG. So many. I’m part of a very small international yoga meditation satsang. In fact, I’m on my way to drive 2 1/2 hours to have coffee with a dear friend who is one of my spiritual teachers. My work is holistic health. That community supports me so much. My local Unity church. Then, of course, this community, too.

    3 months ago
  9. Michele

    Disney and Universal Studios – what joy, excitement, and magical memories made at these special places 🙂
    LGBT+ – I support these communities for equality
    Donate Life – support by being an organ and tissue donor
    Best Friends Animal Society/Bat Conservation International /Siamese Rescue Me/Rescue Borzoi/Humane Society/SPCA/IFAW/PETA-many more animal groups
    this website and everyone who participates here – thank you
    Nature, State Parks, Botanical Gardens
    I help these communities thrive by donating $, voting, and sharing positive experiences
    Enjoy the weekend everyone.

    3 months ago
    1. Barb C

      I know you’ll appreciate this, Michele–recently one of my sisters-in-law posted on Facebook about being an organ donor when she dies. It was a great message along the lines of “Throw a party! Play loud music! Give away whatever still works–I don’t need it where I’m going!”

      She encouraged others to copy/paste if they would do the same. I added to the post that I’m signed up with the bone marrow donation registry and put the post on my page. I got comments from people who hadn’t thought about being a bone marrow donor before and others who said they’d been meaning to add the organ donation information to their driver’s license and hadn’t yet. At least a couple of new recruits!

      3 months ago
      1. Michele

        That’s awesome Barb! I do appreciate it and I’m sure any future recipients as well 🙂

        3 months ago
  10. EJP

    My work community is my “happy place” that is a positive and supportive environment, working as a team for the benefit of others. Every day I give my best in multiple ways to help this community thrive.

    3 months ago
  11. Joseph McCann

    The Life Ring secular recovery community I belong to. The prevailing thought is to empower your sober self. The meetings are non-religious not anti-religious. The basic format of the meetings is about peer recovery (although I refer to mine as discovery) and sharing of the how past week was and what if any challenges in the coming week. The meetings also encourage crosstalk. I have met people at these meetings from one day sober to 13 years of sobriety. All that is required is a desire to be sober from any substance abuse. The web address is: http://www.lifering.org. This grateful.org community also brings me great joy. The amount of mental clarity that I receive from all of the reflections is so much appreciated. Today’s quote accompanies the philosophy of both communities well, “It is powerful practice to be generous when you are the one feeling in need.” Allan Lokos

    3 months ago
  12. Carol

    Of course, the gratefulness.org Daily Question community brings me joy and feeds my soul. I deeply appreciate every one of you.

    I found this definition for the word community at Dictionary.com: “A community is a group of people who share something in common. You can define a community by the shared attributes of the people in it and/or by the strength of the connections among them. You need a bunch of people who are alike in some way, who feel some sense of belonging or interpersonal connection.”

    What if we humans as a species came to the realization that we are more alike than different? What if we honored our own traditions but also honored the traditions of others? What if we truly nurtured evolution? Would there be a need for revolution? What if we sincerely nurtured and honored the need for relationship–the need for a world-wide community that understands that our home, planet earth, is in jeopardy? What challenges and joy such a community could bring.

    3 months ago
    1. Joseph McCann

      The last paragraph of you reflection is powerful and needs to be read at a United Nations General Assembly meeting Carol.

      3 months ago
  13. Antoinette

    Thank you all for being here and thank you for being here doing this together!

    3 months ago
  14. Kevin

    First, let me say thank you to those folks here, who took the time to express their condolences regarding the passing of our 20 year, old cat, Faith. She was a one person cat, mainly my wife’s cat! I was the litter box boy. For 20 years my job was to keep the litter box clean, so that’s a job I am really not going to miss! But still, thank you all very much.

    To today’s question: I am quite active within my faith community, which sustains me spiritually, emotionally, and I suppose, socially as well, though I seldom think of it in those terms.

    3 months ago
    1. Josie

      I actually live within my faith community. My reflection today mirrors your last paragraph exactly, Kevin. Thank you.

      3 months ago

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