The Value of Connecting With Community

We have walked many paths in our life. On our journey some paths have been successful and some others, well – not so much! We have experienced some ups and downs and maybe you, like many people, have also had some successes and some challenges.  One thing we experienced is the value of connecting with community.  In the hard times, people are there to help us.  In good times, they are there to celebrate with us. We value those friends and connections.

Recently, my husband, Doug, and I walked the paths at Lake Susan Park. We saw many people who are probably neighbors and live close to us, yet we didn’t know them.  Yes, we realize, we can’t know everyone in our neighborhood but we would like to try to get to know a lot more of you.

A variety of people were at the park. We saw a couple walking holding hands, kids whizzing by on skateboards and children on the playground. We heard the fast pat, pat of the feet of runners possibly working to beat their fastest time as they zipped past us. We saw a mother pushing a child in a stroller and also a grown child pushing a mother in a wheelchair.  We were struck by the dichotomy of the role reversal and we began thinking about how fast life goes by.  Life can be so busy now; it can be like being caught in a whirlwind of activity that is sometimes exciting and sometimes overwhelming.

As we watched the people at the park, we wondered what has happened on their life paths and what will happen for them in the future.  Each of them must also have stories and meaningful moments on their journeys. Maybe you wonder what joys, challenges and transitions you will face in the future.  I am always glad that I don’t have a crystal ball to tell me what is ahead. Whatever happens, one thing I am sure of, is the value of connecting.

Doug asked me if I had a story about connections in my life. After thinking a moment, I remembered one. As a little child, I was very shy – painfully shy.  Only then I didn’t really know what it was called. Sometimes, when people came over, I actually hid in the closet. I wouldn’t even use the telephone. Later on, life lessons from parents with patience taught me that connections really felt good. I learned the value of connections to others.

Doug, on the other hand, was a child who craved connections. At four years old, he would go up to a stranger’s house and ask if there was anyone who wanted to come out to play. He was an outgoing kid. Then it seemed to be a safer world.  Most parents today might not allow their children to try that method for finding new friends.  Doug and I started out as children with very different feelings about connecting with others. Now we both enjoy connecting with people and coaching them in their personal and professional lives.

Just as we have shared some bits of our paths in life, we know you have things that have happened in your life. Some of the stories might be about hardship or triumph and some of the stories will just be humorous things that happened along the way.  We look forward to getting to know you better and hearing your stories.

Until next time, we hope you will be enjoying your neighbors, your life path, and also the beautiful parks we have in the neighborhood. Here’s a challenge: Get to know at least one person in your neighborhood that you don’t already know. Then we are on our way to coming together for conversations, better understanding, and realizing the value of connecting with community.

© Lynn Nodland 2017
Doug and Lynn Nodland are residents of Chanhassen and owners of The Balance Center. They can be contacted at WeCare@TheBalanceCenter.com and WeCare@SharingLifesLessons.com