The Healing Power of Community

 

“Once upon a time, an old man was nearing the end of his days and wanted to impart a valuable lesson to his children. He called them together and handed each one a stick, asking them to break it. Each child easily snapped their stick in two. Then the old man took a bundle of sticks and tied them together with a piece of twine. He handed the bundle to each child in turn and asked them to break it. Despite their best efforts, none of the children could break the bundle. The old man said, ‘You see, my children, individually you are like the single sticks—easy to break. But together, united as a community, you are strong and unbreakable. Remember, in unity there is strength, and in community, there is healing.’” ~ Aesop.

 

Local communities, including businesses and gathering places, in-person social networks, school districts and college campuses, places of religious and spiritual worship, public services, municipal governance, law, code enforcement and more comprise the backbone of modern living.

 

Natural Awakenings magazine serves the local natural health and wellness community, encompassing the reiki, yoga, fitness, nutrition, counseling and medical communities, to name a few. Take a peek starting on page 31 to peruse our robust Community Resource Guide.

 

Recent decades have fostered a new era of technology, and the concept of community has taken on new meaning in the social media age. In a sense, we are now members of a global community, and ultimately, we all belong to the human community. As such, we tend to seek out the people, places, backgrounds, beliefs and ideologies that are familiar and with which we resonate.

 

Science has determined that our survival brain seeks the familiar. Communities tend to be bonded together by threads of commonality and safety. It often takes self-awareness and conscious effort to expand comfort zones and contract preconceptions to grow or blend a community.

 

Be sure to read this month’s feature story by Thais Harris, who references several sources that reinforce the science which indicates that face-to-face interactions are essential to our well-being, and in-person communities provide a more heartfelt sense of fellowship.

 

In order to be an effective member and participant of any community, we need to understand and love ourselves first. Build and use your community to grow, support, serve, stay healthy and ultimately feel good, live simply and laugh more.

 

~ “The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital.” ~ Mark Hyman.