This past weekend was special because I celebrated a sense of community while sharing a meal with my neighbors at my homeowners association's annual picnic.
The event included music, games, and an assortment of good food. It also provided an opportunity to visit with neighbors I have not seen since last year's picnic. And it all took place under clear skies and comfortable temperatures.
We elected members to the association's board of directors, and we cheered as winners of a raffle drawing were announced and presented with their prizes. I didn't win anything.
I ate too much. But it was all worth it, I thought afterward, because the event seemed to revitalize a sense of community for many.
I serve on the board of directors (but was not on this year's ballot because I have two years remaining on my term of service). I see others members of the board at our monthly meetings.
I see other neighbors while walking my dog. We wave or nod to each other. We exchange pleasantries, and we then resume our tasks. It's a simple exchange that typically lasts less than a minute. It's polite, but hardly constitutes a conversation.
And that's why I valued the picnic. When we sit and share a meal with someone, inevitably we ask questions, we share information, we learn a little more about the neighbor we see throughout the year.
Conversations allow us to learn and understand. Understanding fosters concern, and a sense of concern reinforces the fibers of community. And community seasons life and can help lighten the strain of daily living.
So my weekend was special, because my sense of community was refreshed and revitalized, and that doesn't happen every weekend.
-- Thank you for reading. Your comments are always welcome. You may share your thoughts here, or email me at kbotterman@gmail.com.
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