I recently returned from a spring break trip to Phoenix, AZ. While there, we toured Frank Lloyd Wright’s school, Taliesin West. As an added bonus, we saw the blown glass artwork of Dale Chihuly in a special exhibit. These two men are not contemporaries. In fact, Chihuly was only 18 when Wright died. Both of these craftsmen and artists held a deep value for teaching their craft to the next generation and created schools to do so. The similarity goes even deeper. They both created the culture and work of their schools to promote and build community between artist and students and the students themselves. As I toured Taliesin, it became crystal clear that everything Wright did from building design to how he taught students was to create a community. They both seemed to understand better than most just how important community is to us as human beings and that good community is fostered by intentionality of communal interaction.
I started reflecting on how I relate to community in my own life. For many of us, the last two years saw our circle of community shrink due to the necessity of social distancing and other measures of safe living during the pandemic. As life moves into a safer place for gathering and returning to community, I realize I must be very intentional about expanding my community in meaningful, helpful and healing ways.
Perhaps you also are sensing it is time to reconnect to places of community that have been overlooked. I would invite you to join me in reflecting on the role of community in our lives and how we can become more intentional in creating community around us.
As we begin the process of reconnecting, it is important to remember there is no one right or wrong way to do this. The best way forward into reconnection is with intentionality, personal reflection and assessment.
Beginning Points for Your Reflection
- Take some time to reflect on who and what in your life is missing. This may be people you have missed or events or places. Starting here will help you begin to know where it is you have the deepest need to connect.
- How much physical as well as emotional energy can you devote to this process? Reconnecting can be work and if you have become comfortable at home, this change will take energy. It is fine if all you can manage is 15 minutes connecting with a co-worker over break. It is also appropriate if you want to spend all day at one of the many upcoming spring or summer festivals. The important piece is knowing how much you feel you can handle.
- Make this re-connection a priority. Put it on your calendar. Create mental space around this time as being important to keep.
- Once you have engaged your first re-connecting experience, reflect on it. How did it go? What kind of feelings did it raise in you? Are you ready to step forward into your next re-connecting experience? Why or why not?
Every change we make in our lives takes time to feel comfortable. This is no different. Be patient with yourself and know you are taking the most important first step already in reading this and thinking about re-connecting with others. You can do this. Take one step at a time.
