The importance of community
Community is a hard word to define. It can be the area you live in, or a group of people who all have something in common, or even friends and family. Human beings are social animals and we thrive in groups, so having a strong community around you, whatever it may be, can be an incredible support network. Communities can have a massive impact on you - they give you a sense of belonging, share the same attitudes and values as you, and helps to tackle loneliness, something that has become increasingly important through the pandemic.
As communities play such a vital role in your life, maintaining that community is important, and there are always things you can do to help. The most obvious thing that springs to mind is volunteering around the community - this can be at homeless shelters, food banks, soup kitchens, schools, hospitals and many more. Volunteer opportunities are truly endless, and is a great way to give back to your community. There are incredible examples of people coming together and making a massive impact through volunteer service, for example, in the pandemic, communities all over the country came together to provide free school meals during the holidays for those who needed it when our government failed to do so.
However, volunteering is a time and energy commitment that not everyone can make, but there are tiny ways of making a difference everyday and strengthening your community bond. Ring up your neighbours who may be lonely or struggling through the pandemic to check in, or pick up that piece of litter in the park, or take part in community events that happen once in a while such as bake sales or park runs. Small actions can help make a big difference, and may affect people in ways that you don’t initially see.
Your community does not have to be the people you live near - perhaps you are a part of a cultural community that is spread across the country or the world. Here, distance can make it difficult to engage with your community if you are not in the same geographical area. A great way to combat this is social media. Yes, social media does have its negatives but one of the great things about it is it allows you to communicate with people all over the world, and with social media constantly collecting your data, the algorithm will automatically begin connecting you with people of the same interests allowing you to explore different communities. Throughout the pandemic, we have seen how technology can be used to help people stay in touch when they cannot see each other face-to-face, so take advantage of this and connect with new people!
Community is something that is incredibly important for your mental health, but also personal development, and so maintaining that community, helping it and giving back to it is also important. Volunteering is a great route, but not something that is accessible to everyone, so have a look at different ways you can give back to your community, even something as simple as checking in on a friend or contributing a cake to a local bake sale. Every little thing helps!