The Power of Building Community - Be With Your People
Research from the Blue Zones—areas of the world where people tend to live longer, healthier lives—links longevity to having a healthy social network. Especially when we have hardships in our lives, being in community with people we trust provides the emotional support needed to make it through challenging situations. Inevitably, we will have struggles and difficulties, and moving through these in community is a boost to our well-being.
Staying socially engaged supports your brain health just as much as exercise and healthy eating do. It’s strongly recommended by the Global Council on Brain Health, a collaborative group of researchers and other experts convened by AARP. Social engagement also provides comfort, meaning, and a feeling of inclusion and community.
“If you’re feeling isolated or are in a new environment, one way to find your people and build a community is to participate in service that supports issues and causes you care about. You may be serving alongside them and collaborating to support the health and well-being of others and the community as a whole,” says Ben Trager, PhD, Director of Community Engagement and Experiential Learning at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
I've experienced this first-hand in the last several months, moving to a new community. I've reached out to groups and organizations I'm interested in and have focused on activities and causes I'm passionate about. Fortunately, I hit the jackpot with the Silver Storm Senior Women's basketball team out of the Chapel Hill, NC area. I've found a wonderful group of fun, energetic, positive friends already!
Another important way to stay engaged is to keep in touch with people important to us. You don’t have to travel to connect with them. Sending a note or card in the mail, texting, emailing, calling, and video chats are all ways to stay connected.
In your own neighborhood, you can connect with friends to stroll in a nearby park, take a walk, attend a local event, or just have coffee together. The key concept here is the joy of friendship.
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