How important is community?

The idea of community intrigues me. We long to be individuals who are unique and independent, but in the long-term all of that feels empty. We all are drawn back to a community of people with whom we desire to share our stories. It's as if our memories didn't happen unless we share them.

Social media has become irreplaceable and addictive today because it meets a need in all of us for community.

I hear the naysayers (like myself) already: "Social media is not really community. Community is face-to-face connection, which what a generation of young people are missing." However, at it's very best, we use to to connect and stay in contact with a community of people. Essentially, we are able to shrink the world and use social media to be more inclusive and embracing of a community of people that we cannot regularly connect with face-to-face.

We need community. We are drawn to it because we are wired for it. Family. Friends. Connection. Communication. Community.

People desire to be known and loved. We want people to truly see us and get us. To really know why behind the who.

It's true of me, and I'm sure it's true of you, too.

We've all met different types of people, but all of us - no matter how unique - fit into a few categories:

1. The Easy to Know and Love

These people are happy-go-lucky and open. They may or may not be the life of the party, but community with them is easy.
These people have a lot to offer, but they are skeptical. They may have been hurt or their self image may be low. They long for community, but it doesn't come as easy as the first group of people.
These people have a lot to offer, but they're more guarded. They want people to work or pay dues - to earn it - before knowing or loving them. They need community, but try desperately to convince their mind otherwise.

2. The Uneasy About Being Known and Loved

3. The Difficult to Know and Love

People need to be known and loved, and no matter who they are we need to work toward building a healthy community.

There's too much talk in our world about exclusivity and building walls. It angers me to even think about it.

Hear me, because I'm not trying to make a political statement.

There's a lot of complex in our world, however the simple is that people long to be known and loved. We have a responsibility as humans to embrace, to include, to tear down walls (if necessary) in order to build a community with the people around us.

Whether they fit in the easy, uneasy, or difficult group let us build not tear down. Let us love not isolate. Let us embrace the differences as we allow them to make us better.

And maybe, just maybe, our simple act of love will have a ripple effect on the world in which we live.

[I would love to hear your comments and thoughts about this post. Use the comment section below or click here to tell your story.]