The room was filled with light and laughter. Genuine smiles, warm hearts, meaningful conversation.
This describes three entirely different gatherings, each with a different community of friends, that I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of in the past week.
Community: a body of people having similarities; fellowship of interests; unified by commonalities. These are some of the dictionary entries defining community. It’s all of these and more. It’s community that really binds us, feeding us with the nutrients we all need for a healthy social life. I’m a firm believer that these social interactions are vital for our mental health but equally essential for our longevity.
Now that the pandemic guidelines have eased and all our close friends have, like us, been double-vaccinated, we can get together in small groups. A week ago, two other couples with whom we get together for dinner, rotating to one another’s homes each time (pre-pandemic), captured that great feeling. It’s been so long since we had all been together and all of us so grateful to finally gather again, the entire evening was filled with rolling waves of laughter. So much laughter my cheeks were getting sore.
Mid week our “chop n’ chat” group met at the University in the neighbouring city to have lunch in their dining room, prepared and served by the students in the chef program. Oh how the conversation flowed, laughter ever present.
And then last evening two dear friends from across the country joined us for dinner. Whenever we’re together, the chatter and laughter go hand-in-hand and never seems to come to an end. It reminds me of when we were little children at a birthday party or special event, having a grand time but not wanting to leave — and perhaps putting up a fuss at the thought of having such great times come to an end.
Community also includes friends and family who stay in touch despite physical distance and the distraction of social media. Sometimes it’s letters they write, perhaps an occasional postcard or, out of the blue, a phone call.
Whether it’s those incredibly special times together or letters received in the mail, our community feeds us with essential nutrients. Community is really an eco-system that nourishes each member thereby sustaining the community as a whole. It’s a good thing.
The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.
Dalai Lama
If you enjoyed this why not share it with a friend or post about it on social media. Thank you for reading and sharing your time with me. — Diane
Thanksgiving will be a very small gathering with only the in-laws. But we know that time with them will be running out as they age. And the children are now having children and creating their own circle of family gatherings. What will be nice is that there won’t be 5 different conversations happening at once and we can have meaningful conversations that will be remembered long after the gathering. Now if only we stay away from politics. ; – )
Lovely. My hope is that communities across Canada & beyond are in a healthy enough state this Christmas that people can come together and rediscover the joy of togetherness.