Comments on: Gift of community

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:30:40 +0000

Lovely thoughts, Cindy, and I concur. Community is so important and I love my small one here on the Bay. I don’t think I could ever live really comfortably in a big city, unless it had a small, self-contained neighborhood where every one does know your name. I shop in small stores, co-ops, and feel their loving support as I lend mine. Here’s to community and the the joy it can bring.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:46:59 +0000

Starrlife and Deb, you made some good points about how hard it is to build community today. You might want to read Putnam’s book, which is linked in this essay.

Me, I blame the Internet and social media. Don’t get me wrong — I love this blogging and spend LOTS of time on Facebook. I think the opportunity to connect with more people online is FANTASTIC!

But I often hear people talk fondly of their cyber friends, and claim that they are “closer” to friends online than they are to the real people in their lives. I’ve read comments from many bloggers who claim they are more comfortable being intimate online, sharing their deeper feelings, etc., in a blog or on Facebook than they are communicating with friends and relatives in person. That’s sad, when you think about it. It’s a symptom of something wrong in our culture, and I am not sure what. A psychologist would have a field day with it.

I suppose having friends online is better than having none at all. But the Internet isn’t real people. Friendship — in the 3D world — is hard work sometimes. It takes effort to nurture real friendships. They die with neglect and lack of intimacy and honesty.

By: deb @ talk at the table

deb @ talk at the table — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:54:39 +0000

Perfectly said.
The other night my husband used the street app of google earth to do a virtual walk through the life he spent growing up in one house, one vibrant and wonderful neighbourhood. We wish it for our family now, but it is a challenge.
Even the progressive house to house party that our street has done for 9 years has fizzled out. I’m still heartbroken over it. It meant something.
Why is everyone always looking for the thing that is often right under their nose.

By: starrlife

starrlife — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:58:22 +0000

It can be so hard today to build community. Even though I live in a relatively small town I find people group off along narrow interests and I am so not a narrow interest kind of gal. Would you be my neighbor?

By: Cindy H.

Cindy H. — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:43:40 +0000

Cindy, we must have been on the same wave length today. I had a deja vous moment when I read your quotation from Margaret Mead, because I was almost going to use that one myself when I was updating on quote of the day on my Web site. At the last minute, I decided to go one more time with a pithy saying from playwright Wilson Mizner.

I was thinking about Margaret Mead’s quotation because I just finished bundling up some home-baked cookies in ziploc bags to sell locally tomorrow for the bake sale for our Michigan schools. Local moms in our public school district are trying to get the public to pay attention to the slashed funding for schools, and urging Michiganders to contact legislators to come up with a REAL solution for Michigan’s budget woes.

It’s a simple local effort, it’s important and it’s part of the community. So thank you, Cindy, for talking about the need for the community to band together for worthwhile causes.

And for those in Royal Oak, please support the cookie sale — and contact your state legislators!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:11:11 +0000

Thanks everyone — yes, Royal Oak has the heart of a small town and the ambiance of a college town (which it is) and I feel very lucky to have lived here for 27 years. We’ve loved it so much here, in fact, that we moved three times within a few blocks until we found the house of our dreams. I’m also touched when I remember that we have several families in the ‘hood who’ve stayed rooted for quite a while, often for several generations.

Sam, I am blessed to have YOU as a neighbor … we’ve had some fun here, haven’t we!

Ellen — I know what you mean about the “decorative” porches that are only there for show. Sad, really.

Sharon — if you get together in each other’s homes once or twice a month, that’s wonderful!
–CL

By: Sharon

Sharon — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:12:25 +0000

That Margaret Mead quote is one of my all-time favorites. Yours is a special neighborhood Cindy. The houses in the town where I live now are spread out, and I live several miles from most of the people I’ve met. A group of us get together in each other’s homes once or twice a month to do handwork, and this serves as our “community.”

By: Only the Half of It

Only the Half of It — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:39:32 +0000

So true Cindy.
I will say that I frequently wonder, on bike rides and walks, why no one is ever out on their front porches, especially those decked out with benches, chairs, swings. It’s like it’s all just decor.
And: I love your house and neighborhood. No wonder you don’t want to be anywhere else.

By: Samantha Pattison

Samantha Pattison — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:37:09 +0000

I am blessed to have you as a neighbor Cindy!

By: Joanna Jenkins

Joanna Jenkins — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:50:18 +0000

Well said Cindy! A sense of community really brings people together. Unfortunately, so often we miss the opportunity to connect. Thanks for the reminder.

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful.