Community is important

Merriam-Webster defines community as “a unified body of individuals: such as the people with common interests living in a particular area … a social state or condition … or society at large.

In this current time, I’d like to talk about the “people with common interests …”. Sheltering in place due to the spread of the coronavirus has been going on now for two weeks but it seems like months.

My husband and I always wished we had more time to spend together, as our familial community, so you’d think we’d be in heaven. He suffers from depression and being able to swim almost every day really helps him physically and mentally. The athletic pool that he swims at has been closed for two, long weeks. It seems like months since he has been able to exercise and our home community is suffering.

I’ve been working from home for my nonprofit so I’m getting a lot done. I miss my co-workers and staff. I am volunteering to serve lunch to our “community” of Catholic sisters so I enjoy making that brief connection 2-3 times per week. With my hair net, mask, apron and gloves, sometimes I’m even recognizable. I actually get to see more sisters than I would if I were working in my office on campus, so that’s been a blessing!

I miss my friends! It seems like it’s been way longer than two weeks since we had dinner together, crocheted together and laughed together. My out-of-town friends and I have tried to connect by phone but even though we all are working from home, it’s been hard to connect because the weather is finally warming up and yard work takes us outside at different times of the day and evening. A chance to commune with the nature community.

Community is so important! It fuels our emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health.

What are you doing now to promote community – whether it be with your family, friends, co-workers or neighbors? How can we help each other and those in need if we can’t get close?