COMMUNITY - Sharing, participation, and fellowship.
I'm a day late with my community week kick off because I was engaged with a couple of my communities! The newest, my fellow participants of Bloggy Boot Camp and an old favorite, my Monday Park gathering Mommy & kids group. My apologies go out to those of you looking for the kickoff yesterday.
To recap for my newest readers, my Everyday Bliss game is based loosely on Ben Franklin's weekly focus on each of his 13 virtues. Instead of using Ben's virtues, I have chosen virtues that I believe will encourage Everyday Bliss. In addition to focusing on my virtues, each week I come up with "Bliss Initiatives" (color coded in purple for quick identification!) which are concrete things that you too can try, if you want to play along with me. However, because as Earl Nightingale says, "you become what you think about," even if you only follow along, and never take on any of the bliss initiatives, I expect some increase in your experience of bliss too!
This week I am fostering community in the following ways. Please join me in taking on these or other community initiatives of your choosing.
- Get off the Couch - Turn off electronics and get out of the house. Find a local activity that sounds fun and attend.
- Sit on your front porch - In the world of backyard decks people have stopped hanging out in front of their houses. Try sitting on your front stoop and saying hello to those who pass by. I've started a Monday ritual to clean out my car right out in front of my house. I'm busy doing something that needs to happen, anyone who has a pre-schooler who shares a car with them will concur on this fact, and I have the added bonus of seeing and talking to my neighbors who I otherwise wouldn't see.
- Find a group that shares your passion - What ever your passion, gardening, scrapbooking, skydiving or anything else and there are likely groups who gather to do these very things. Seek them out and join one. Doing something you love in the company of others can be exhilarating!
- Buy local - One of the quickest way to really feel like you are part of a community is to get to know your local merchants. Get to know the folks at your local hardware store, farmers market, small gift shops and diners. When you know these people by name even mundane purchases become excercises in community building.
How will you foster community this week?
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