Community- a free-write

We all have a part within us that wants to belong to something. As much as we value our individuality, we also want to be a part of something greater than ourselves. It’s a part of human nature. It brings us perspective and peace, a comfort that everything is not all about us all the time, and that life’s ups and downs aren’t as big as they seem.

However, that feeling is getting harder to come by. As human civilization has progressed further, we’ve formed and lived in larger cities. Cities are great. There is lots to do, they are much more user-friendly, and there are a lot more opportunities. But there is a drawback: loneliness.
The closeness we feel to the people around us is inversely proportional to the number of people we have around us. In a city as big as New York, it would be quite impossible to get to know everyone around us. So, although New York is many things, a community is not one of them.
What can be done to fix it? If you are not handed a community to be a part of, then you must create one for yourself. If you build it, they will come.

How do you do it? It all starts with action. In every corner of every city, there are things to do. You are not going to know them all unless you take the time and effort to look. The Internet and social media have many drawbacks, but one of their best qualities is that they are great tools for bringing people together.

Go to concerts, find a book club, find a running circle, walking group, chess club, improv theater, etc. All these things exist everywhere, you just have to take action and look for them. If you like something, keep doing it. If you don't like it, stop. If you keep doing something for a long period of time with like-minded people, you will find yourself a part of a community. And I believe that is a good thing.

Sometimes we find a sense of community and belonging in places where we least expect it. My life changed at the tender age of 25 when, for lack of a better phrase, I found God. I am not one of those people that brings up God in every conversation. Nor am I the most devout follower. But there were times in my mid-twenties when I was completely and utterly lost. My career wasn't going according to plan, my dating life was non-existent, I was drinking too much, and some would say I was full-on depressed.

Life is hard, no one will argue against that. There are a lot of ups and downs, and the cruelty in life is that the bad times feel worse than the good times feel good. That's life.

It was at this point in my life that I found my Hinduism. I don't know exactly why this happened, but I recall that it stemmed from being stressed out about the future. The uncertainty of life had gotten to me, and I needed to believe in something bigger than myself.

Well, one of the tenets of Hinduism is that your fate has already been written. Fucking fantastic! What a weight off my shoulders! So you mean to tell me that everything that is going to happen in my life has already been taken care of, all I have to do is.....live? Sign me up.

I know the words make it seem simple, but the sentiment is very powerful if you choose to believe in it. If you accept that your destiny has been written, then it matters a whole lot less what is going on in your daily life. There is less emotional volatility. Everything that happens is for the best because whatever happens is what SHOULD happen. It is just one part of a much bigger picture. Got it? The path has already been paved for us; all we have to do is.... walk. This is a very empowering mindset if you choose to believe.

So that became my community in a way. Or, better put, I became a part of that community. In more ways than one, it saved my life. It gave me the willpower to continue my journey, and I am really glad I did. But religion is not just belief, it is practice as well. I pray every day. Why do I do that? Simply to remind myself that everything happens for a reason and that I am part of a much bigger plan. The universe has my back. God does not put something in front of a person that he or she cannot handle.