One of the most impactful changes to our society over the past few decades is the drastic change in how we build and maintain a community.
We no longer know or rely on our neighbors like we used to. I am 100% guilty of this…I don’t even know my neighbors’ names or talk to them. The pandemic accelerated the breakdown of traditional communities. For example, church attendance is at an all-time low, where many people have traditionally found a community. In addition, political divisions have escalated and destroyed friendships, families, groups, and even marriages over the last several years.
But one thing that hasn’t changed is that having a community remains vital to your mental and emotional well-being. You NEED community!
My journey over the last few years in building a business as an online creator has been an incredible experience. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
But…and it’s a big but…
It has been a very isolating journey.
I don’t have friends that are entrepreneurs or creators. I haven’t had anyone in my physical world doing what I am doing. I wasn’t about to allow that to stop me from doing what I felt compelled to do! But taking the leap, starting a business, and creating online have all been done alone. I unwittingly discovered something that no one talks about. I realized I didn’t have a community and was suffering because of it.
Until last month.
I attended a conference for online creators and entrepreneurs. My only goal was to meet people on this same crazy journey and build a community with them. I didn’t care about the speakers or the classes…I NEEDED A TRIBE.
I am happy to report that I successfully achieved my goal! I returned home on fire with energy and motivation. I had several phone numbers of people I hope to continue to work with and build with in the future. But most importantly, I have blossoming friendships with people on the same path I am on. I am no longer alone on this journey, and that feels FANTASTIC!
The connections and relationships we develop in our communities carry us through our challenges and help us find joy in the journey.
What science says about community
Human beings are not designed to be alone. Even the most introverted among us need other people. So we are hard-wired to be part of a community, whatever form that community takes.
In fact, on the hierarchy of needs, only physiological and safety needs rank higher than our need for community.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), people with a weak community are more likely to have poor physical health and are far more likely to have poor mental health.
You may be one of the millions who experienced this firsthand during the lockdowns when going to school, attending church, and participating in group activities were all banned, and a mental health crisis started worldwide.
The need to belong and be a part of a community also brought people together during 2020 as we saw people working together to sew face masks to meet the shortages and people donating handmade items, food, hand sanitizer, and even toilet paper to help those in our communities who didn’t have the essentials.
But over time, as shortages became a thing of the past, while the restrictions continued, community efforts and groups dissolved, mental well-being was ignored, and the suffering of isolation increased.
Being involved in your community isn’t nice. It is ESSENTIAL.
The Meaning of Community Has Changed
The last couple of years has encouraged the growth of online communities. The need to reach out and be connected to other human beings has demanded it.
The change happened quickly, without much choice in many cases. So many people reached the point that attending another Zoom meeting sounded like torture.
For some, being able to stay home, enjoy a slower pace, and not have the forced socialization they endured before was a welcome change. So much so that we experienced a phenomenon called “The Great Resignation.” People loved being home so much they figured out how to quit any job that didn’t allow them to work from home. Others left the workforce altogether and pursued the dreams they had on hold before the world changed.
But, this hasn’t changed the need for community.
Utilizing tools like Slack, Discord, Zoom, FaceTime, and Messenger has allowed people to build communities in new ways without the limits of geography. Social media allows us to connect with people who share our interests and ideas worldwide.
We are living in a new world. It can feel very isolating for those who haven’t tapped into these online tools or jumped into online communities.
Some of this strain has eased as more in-person activities have returned. But some things, like church attendance and neighborhood activities, have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Crochet Communities
Crochet has so many benefits for your mental and emotional well-being. But you can take it further by joining a community of other crocheters.
In-person crochet groups have existed forever. But today, you no longer need to leave your house to join up with fellow crocheters. Instead, you can hop on Zoom with a few of your crochet friends and visit while you stitch. You can also join one of the MANY online crochet communities where you can share ideas, get help with your stitching struggles, and, most importantly, get support as you complete projects and post pictures for the group. It feels great to get positive feedback from people who understand the time and work that went into making that!
These types of communities are growing like wildfire through social media. People NEED a sense of belonging, and online communities are a great place to find it.
That being said, digital replications of relationships are lacking in shared space, picking up on body language and tone, and especially missing the ability to share hugs and a good laugh.
Look around your town or city and see if you can find an in-person crochet group to get together with even once a quarter to fill your need for human interaction and build the bonds of community with people in your area.
Another option is to meet people in an online space in your area and see if anyone wants to get together with you and start a crochet group.
There are no limits to the options you can find if you are actively looking for opportunities to build a community of stitchers in your area.
Key Takeaway
Here’s the bottom line. YOU NEED A COMMUNITY.
It is vital to your physical and emotional health. There are many options in the modern world for building a community and finding your tribe of happy crocheters.
If your progress is slow and you haven’t found your perfect group yet…don’t give up! As I said, there are thousands of groups for crocheters. Keep looking until you find one that feels right, welcomes you with open arms, shares your values, and offers the support you need.
If you find this article helpful, please comment and share. I post weekly blogs to help you grow as a person and a crocheter so you can maximize the joy you experience in your life.
You can DM me on Instagram anytime. I love to hear from you and get to know you.
Happy Stitching!
xo — Lavena
P.S. Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet for Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of many amazing women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy, peace, and calm in their everyday lives by becoming renewed and revitalized while having fun with crochet.
