The Importance of Community

When I tell people I'm a single mother, I'm only telling part of the story. It's shorthand. It's an easy way to tell someone that I am the adult caregiver in our household.

The reality is much more complex. If I were truly a single mother, I don't think I could cope with the stress of life. My children have many caring adults in their lives. I have a support system that includes friends, family, and their father. Single parenting is not an accurate description of what I do. I lean heavily on my community.

Community is a Human Need

Despite cultural ideals of individualism and independence, humans are social animals. Having community is a need for a healthy lifestyle. It's been a relatively short period of time since social acceptance was objectively a requirement for survival. We've held on to those instincts. It's why public speaking is a top fear. There's usually no physical risk to speaking in front of a group of people but there is a strong perceived risk that we may do something to embarrass ourselves and as a result, people won't like us.

We need people to like us. We need human connection. Community feeds the spirit.

Social Media

Technology can be a double-edged sword when it comes to fostering healthy communities. I feel like in many ways the usual business of social media hurts us more than helps us. We have incredible power in the words and actions we share over social media and the means to instantly broadcast to the world. In what other time in our existence has this been possible?

We have the power to send our love and care for one another and the same power to do the opposite. Culture hasn't completely caught up with technology. We still need to teach our global citizens that when you post, insert inflammatory opinion here on your Facebook wall. It's just like putting it up on a billboard for everyone to see.

The STEEM community

I've been blown away by the various communities I've joined connected to the STEEM blockchain. I consider my steemit friends and family my "real" friends and family. The genuine kindness and affection that I've experienced and witnessed in these communities have been life-changing and life-enhancing.

With STEEM/steemit we have an intersection of strong communities with an opportunity to generate income. Realistically, in my world and culture, money is also a need. I consider community and the access to resources that money provides to be in the top three of all human needs.

I've been on this platform for several months and I am still quite amazed by the opportunity to connect with others while making money. I've decided that creating equitable community spaces is my life's work. The STEEM ecosystem is a perfect place to carry out this work and build both business and personal relationships.

The Importance of Community