Community During Crisis

As humans, we crave connection, togetherness, and support from others. However, it often feels like “us against them.” We think we must stand guard, protecting ourselves from others. However, finding community during a crisis is essential for navigating it and ultimately healing.

Many people feel we’ve been in a bad state in recent years. There's been a lot to take in between the pandemic, the political and racial divide, and the climate. Divide is the keyword that has made it incredibly hard to work through.

As heartbreaking as tragedies are, seeing people come together is always beautiful. Whatever the crisis, differences get put to the wayside, and we focus on what’s important. This could look like races, religions, political parties, and socioeconomic groups looking past the barriers, getting up, and helping one another.

Unfortunately, we’ve become so distant that it’s impacting our mental health. But let’s face it: We have a life to live, and sometimes, it can be competitive. We have to make money, protect, and take care of ourselves. However, this doesn’t mean we should lose sight of what matters.

Too often, we only see compassion during really challenging times. The difficult life experiences make us stop and see the deeper, more caring layers of other people. It’s the beauty that hardships bring and makes us crave it when it’s gone. So, what can we do to keep this sense of community going?

We need to be vigilant in how we interact with one another. Technology is great and convenient, but it shouldn’t replace all forms of bonding. Embrace communities during a crisis but also during happy times. Take time to slow down and look past differences. We don’t always have to agree, but you might have more in common with someone than not. Life is unpredictable, so enjoy the beauty of it together!