Community

We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.
~ Cesar Chavez

Well I'm just off of a Google Hangout ( ooh get me all techy like!) with two very interesting people , Carol Dodsley ( whom I have know for many years now) and Chris Ogle. It was on the back of a brief facebook messaging session where Carol said have your heard of Link 4 growth ? To which I answered, no, never heard of it. Well one thing led to another as my interest was piqued and I finished up ( after some technical hitches- on a Google hangout )


Now having spoken to Chris he's a man with a big vision about  - communities , as in every part of the community meeting and networking together to bring growth to their community. We're not simply talking suited and booted cuff linky ( as Brad the Guru Burton would say) but everyone, business people, local charities, unemployed, retired... I mean open to everyone! That's not all, training and forums for all, with little or no cost but your time. A real opportunity to speak and be heard..... Wow! I hear echo's of the "Big society" here.... but you know, for real.


It's an interesting concept. I know that there are some who would throw themselves into such a community whole heartdley, after all Maslow's hierarchy of needs tells us that we all need to belong, in order to feel self esteem and reach self actualization.

Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing.
~Rollo May

Therefore this idea is not only genius but fundamental to bringing each and everyone of us fulfillment. Let alone the way it can break down barriers, hate, and misunderstanding.

If we were to go back in time, just a little way, our World; albeit maybe locally to ourselves, was built on a bedrock of community. But modern life has maybe changed that, we're in the technical age, where many of our communities are in a virtual form, which has its positive points, no one need feel isolated. But what of our real communities... you know... the ones right outside our door?

How much to you get involved with your community? Are you caught up in "go getting"... or have your considered "go- giving"? I can hear what you're saying... my life is quiet busy enough, or maybe "What's in it for me"?

But I wonder, what would happen if Chris's idea or something similar were to take flight? How would it change you, me and everyone around us?

What springs to mind for me, especially on today as so many remember the D-Day landings, is all of those who gave us this freedom and yet we still in the main ( not everyone I might add) bumble along bemoaning our lot.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person’s life. YOU can make a difference, you can start a ripple.

Not only that, just think of all that juicy wisdom  out there, hidden in all of those friends you've yet to meet... all those gorgeous nuggets of gold that are ideas, dreams and desires as yet not met!

Do we have to wait for a crisis to spring into action? Communities generally do... when the proverbial SH*T hits the fan, its amazing to witness what communities are capable of. But why wait til then?

I wonder, what difference can you make, today, right now in your community?

Unity - the state of being united or joined as a whole. The clues right there in the word.

 In ancient culture it was the stories shared in communities that supported the growth of each and everyone within it. As some of you know I myself attend a Red Tent ( a gathering of women folk to share in the old ways) and I also volunteer as a women in rural enterprise network leader.... why you may ask? well to share and to make a difference, to serve and be kind.... to belong, to build my self esteem and self worth, to understand and become who I am capable of becoming. To feel fulfillment and connection. And that's all part of being human. Forget the business promotion , the closing of the sale, the doing the deal...don't get me wrong that exchange is necessary for  food water and warmth, safety, security and shelter...... and  hey if that comes its a lovely gift, a by product if you like, it means I can just do more and more, whilst taking care of others I also take care of myself and those near and dear to me. Everybody wins!

So today I urge you to start a ripple in your community, be the beginning of something amazing.
Wow imagine the possibilities the collaborations, the many stories to be told and heard. And as the saying goes, many hands make light work... We are after all  part of the same community family :)

Until next time make every moment count,
Lisa xx