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“We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been — a place, half-remembered, and half- envisioned we can only catch glimpses of from time to time. Community. Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing. A circle of friends. Someplace where we can be free.“- Starhawk

One of the things I miss most about working (besides the kids) is the community of teachers I taught with!  I rarely saw any of them outside of the Ramer Wood setting but they were my friends. They saw me every day.  They knew me. They noticed when I had a new outfit, changed my hair colour or tried eyelash extensions.  In some ways they knew me better, on a day to day bases, than my non-Ramer Wood  friends. We shared our stories and the mundane trivia in each of our lives. I have really enjoyed the “Fitbit” Challenge-and part of that is the community and the connection and I have many times a day with my RW cohorts! What is it about community that is so important?  Why is it so important to belong? It’s not that I am lonely-because I am not! But I need to feel like I am part of something-that I belong at a deeper level! I need to know that others are like me-that we are in this place together-with ups and downs, struggles and successes.  It makes me feel safe-it makes me feel complete! So now what? I no longer am part of the Ramer Wood community?  (how quickly I’m out!) How do I fill this void?  I am so fortunate in life that I have so many dear, dear friends whom I share many intimacies with…my dinner club, my exercise girls, my book club, but none of these communities meet every day nor do we share an agenda. Today I have no answer, no smug solution to my quandary!  Today’s post is left unresolved….either I have to change my perception of what a community means to me or I need to create another one! Both would work. And so here I am.

Deb

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