Create Your Community by Jessica Lin from the book FaithFul Practices by Erik Walker Wikstrom.

  • Join an existing group or community. This can be a religious community, volunteer group, or a common interest group. Meetup.com is a great resource for interest groups: for hiking, dining out, seeing comedy shows, writing, attending plays or movies, learning how to dance, or doing woodworking. Anything and everything under the sun. Find a hobby that interests you, or try something new.
  • If you have an idea for something that doesn’t exist yet, create it! As in the movie Field of Dreams, if you build it, they will come. 
  • Foster one-on-one connections, and build deeper relationships. Go for a walk in the park, or have coffee or a meal with a friend. Turn off your phone, and give your friend and the conversation your full attention. 
  • Find an online community that you could enjoy participating in. 
  • Create a long-standing weekly or monthly get-together, whether it is a board game night, trivia night, karaoke, or dinner party. 
  • Connect friends from different groups, but don’t force friendships if the people aren’t interested.
  • Remember to build in time for being alone. I like to walk in the park or sing show tunes in the car.
  • When you meet someone you find to be a kindred spirit, be sure to get their contact information and then invite them to the next event you’re hosting. You could even have personal business cards to hand out.
  • Invite people you’d like to know better to events you would have attended anyway, like museum exhibits, movie showings, or author book readings.
  • Have a cookie party, especially during the holidays. Invite people over and ask them to each bring a dozen cookies. Everyone can try the different types and bring the combined assortments home. 
  • Call friends who live farther away or write a letter to a friend you haven’t communicated with for a while.
  • Send a friend an article via email you think they might enjoy.
  • Lend a favorite book of yours.

Being part of a community is about being seen, being heard, being held, and holding others. When we share our stories, our histories, and give and receive support, we experience true blessings.