People need people

Simply put, people need people.

This is one of the conclusions of “The Global State of Social Connections,” a research study by Meta and Gallup in 2022. There are loads of fascinating facts about social connections in the report, and here are a few highlights:

• 72% of people globally felt “very connected” or “fairly connected” to others
• Young people aged 19-29 reported higher loneliness than older adults aged 65+
• Mongolia topped the list as the most connected country and the United Arab Emirates was the least connected

I’m all about community and social connections, so while I appreciated this report, it got me thinking about my own local community (our 10 blocks). Plus I’m lucky enough to know three amazing inspirational women who are all about creating community. Allow me to introduce them to you, and perhaps you can form a connection with them or be motivated to connect with someone you know to create your own bit of community.

Let’s start with my dear friend, Karen Adamski, aka ShamaMama, who offers workshops, blessings, art classes and so much more. Karen’s calm presence and gentle energy brings out the best in everyone she meets. I’ve seen Karen lead amazing drumming circles, calm active fourth graders with meditation and inspire people through her painting classes. I’m a self-proclaimed non-artist but Karen has coaxed my inner creative self to paint canvases that now proudly hang on my walls.

Next, please meet the incomparable Michelle Francois-Walsh, who runs My Village Well. The mission at Village Well is to cultivate a generous and uniquely dynamic sense of community. Michelle believes in cultivating connection, empowerment and radical self-love. How does the village do that? Well, they host weekly self-love sessions, workshops, retreats and so much more. She launched self love sessions during Covid and they were truly a bright, calming spot during those dark days. Michelle is fearless and funny; she is a do-er and someone who wants to lift up everyone she is around.

And last but certainly not least, check out The Gigis, a community in Silicon Valley for women over 50 to gather, grow and give back. This group is the brainchild of high-energy Shana McLean Moore and is just forming, but is packed with smart, thoughtful women who understand the importance of community. There are in-person meetings, volunteer opportunities and connections being made all over the place; if you want to dive into this growing movement, check out the website. After I attended one session, my friend and I were inspired to hike all 30 miles of trails in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. And I’m proud to report that we’re 16 miles into our journey.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg; there are hundreds of groups all over the world that work to create community. Whether it’s a small neighborhood gathering or an intimate book club, a professional association with hundreds of members or a global movement with thousands, community is calling to all of us. And remember that people need people, so get out there and find some community!