Such a great topic. I think about this a lot. When Covid happened I lost my job that that I worked so hard to achieve, I knew it was never coming back and life was forever changed. What I didn’t realize is that I thrived in community, it was a huge part of who I was. I took it for granted and when it wasn’t able to have any community I was deeply saddened. Zoom was my life raft- I signed up for trainings, started teaching classes online for anyone who wanted to move and took it a day at a time. Today I get extremely excited to see people in classes I teach and take classes sometimes for nothing else but to be in a room with other like minded humans. It took 3 years to rebuild my job life and now with everything we all have gone through in these last years I make community a priority. 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛
I'm so glad to hear that you were able to rebuild, Andrea. I relate to what you've written -- I used to take in-person classes for granted. I definitely don't anymore, which has been a blessing. Thanks for reading!
I crave quiet. But even more I crave community. Thanks for this thoughtful, nuanced piece - love the description at the end of your toweringly tall nephew!
This is a great topic. I can relate about the transient place living in Basel, Switzerland (very international) and I moved from Austria and then England during the pandemic (long story!). Anyway, I also switched to being a full time writer/freelancer from teaching so huge changes community wise. I felt VERY lonely for a while until I was clearer about myself in all this and how I felt about a few things in my life. I think feeling personally balanced makes it easier to spend a lot of time alone (actually I often love it!). But that said, I’ve had discussions with a lot of friends afar recently about the hard work it takes to make and keep friends as you get older and the value in doing so. I’ve decided to take more time to really cultivate a few friendships here with people I value and it’s been very rewarding. I also find community at a yoga studio and my son’s school.
I love spending time alone, too! As I've gotten older I've noticed that it can impede from reaching out...I get lost in my thoughts and need for quiet. It's great to hear that you've been able to find community in a new place :)
Thanks for writing about this Andrea so much of which resonated deeply. I too as others have mentioned am making being in community a priority right now which is also, no surprise...
giving me an opportunity to be in a different way with my anxious uncertain and sometimes overstimulated self. I notice I am able to sit in the pocket of my experience more and hide my head in the sand less in a lot of ways due to the isolation I felt during covid and my priority to be with instead of being without.
So much love for you Andrea and all that are joining in this community you are creating. ❤️
Such a great topic. I think about this a lot. When Covid happened I lost my job that that I worked so hard to achieve, I knew it was never coming back and life was forever changed. What I didn’t realize is that I thrived in community, it was a huge part of who I was. I took it for granted and when it wasn’t able to have any community I was deeply saddened. Zoom was my life raft- I signed up for trainings, started teaching classes online for anyone who wanted to move and took it a day at a time. Today I get extremely excited to see people in classes I teach and take classes sometimes for nothing else but to be in a room with other like minded humans. It took 3 years to rebuild my job life and now with everything we all have gone through in these last years I make community a priority. 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛
I'm so glad to hear that you were able to rebuild, Andrea. I relate to what you've written -- I used to take in-person classes for granted. I definitely don't anymore, which has been a blessing. Thanks for reading!
I crave quiet. But even more I crave community. Thanks for this thoughtful, nuanced piece - love the description at the end of your toweringly tall nephew!
I'm with you on both cravings! Thanks, Laura ❤️
This is a great topic. I can relate about the transient place living in Basel, Switzerland (very international) and I moved from Austria and then England during the pandemic (long story!). Anyway, I also switched to being a full time writer/freelancer from teaching so huge changes community wise. I felt VERY lonely for a while until I was clearer about myself in all this and how I felt about a few things in my life. I think feeling personally balanced makes it easier to spend a lot of time alone (actually I often love it!). But that said, I’ve had discussions with a lot of friends afar recently about the hard work it takes to make and keep friends as you get older and the value in doing so. I’ve decided to take more time to really cultivate a few friendships here with people I value and it’s been very rewarding. I also find community at a yoga studio and my son’s school.
I love spending time alone, too! As I've gotten older I've noticed that it can impede from reaching out...I get lost in my thoughts and need for quiet. It's great to hear that you've been able to find community in a new place :)
I identify so much with this struggle.
Thanks for writing about this Andrea so much of which resonated deeply. I too as others have mentioned am making being in community a priority right now which is also, no surprise...
giving me an opportunity to be in a different way with my anxious uncertain and sometimes overstimulated self. I notice I am able to sit in the pocket of my experience more and hide my head in the sand less in a lot of ways due to the isolation I felt during covid and my priority to be with instead of being without.
So much love for you Andrea and all that are joining in this community you are creating. ❤️