I got an email the other day from a member of my religious community inviting me to an “extended family” gathering. I had been hearing about these “extended families,” groups of people who have formed in the church to be together around holidays, cook meals when someone is ill or has a new baby, and just be a general source of support to members of the “family.”
These days, families of origin are more spread out than ever before. Many of us live several states away from our immediate and extended family, seeing them only periodically for short visits. Our close friends might be spread out all over the country or world as we move from place to place because of work or other life changes.
Given how spread out we become from our roots, it is vital to be mindful of finding a sense of community in the place where we live. We will always have occasions in life when we need support, caring, and someone to turn to, maybe because of a loss, an injury, a new baby, marriage or divorce. It may seem like we can always do it all on our own, but there will be times when we all need help from people we trust.
If you notice that you are lacking community in your life, or maybe you feel like you depend too much on just a few people, look a little further and see what you find. Sometimes friendships can be found in unlikely places. Take initiative to invite people you enjoy to events or cook someone a meal when they are in need. Your efforts to build connections will likely be repaid.
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