I've had some really great experiences of being in community in the last few weeks. In July, my neighbors gathered to give a warm send-off to the couple who had lived in their home for 40 years! Almost everyone from the upper section of our dead end street joined in the fun. We had the opportunity to talk to neighbors who we have never met before and some who we wave to while walking our dogs, but don't often get the chance to converse about anything much more than the weather. I learned that one neighbor has published over a dozen children's books, one makes guitars, and another grew up in a town even smaller than where I grew up.
I've been a member of the Conifer Rotary Club for over a year and have been volunteering at various events. Recently, I had the opportunity to get to know the other members better by attending a couple of our social events.
I wrote last week about taking a yoga class at Red Rocks Amphitheater during which hundreds of people moved together through a yoga flow taught in English and Spanish. I happened to be there with four friends (two of whom I've known almost the entire time I've lived in Colorado and others who I just met recently). After yoga the five of us enjoyed breakfast together during which we talked a lot (mostly about our pets). The morning filled my heart and gave my spirit a boost.
I spent the past five days with four friends who I went to high school with and still travel with at least once every two to three years. It's always a special treat spending time with people who have known me for so long. Our lives have moved in different directions (we're spread across the country and I'm the only one without human children), but we never fail to pick right up where we left off and have an amazing time together. We laughed until we cried, enjoyed some fun outdoor activities like rafting and kayaking, and spent hours engaged in conversation. Once again, the time spent with friends warmed my heart and soul.
Being in community is something many people have been missing. In a 2018 Cigna survey, 54% of American adults reported feeling lonely. Unsurprisingly, that jumped to 61% in 2020. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General called loneliness a public health epidemic. More than half of Americans feel that “no one knows them well.”
I've been trying to think of ways to offer more opportunities to be in community. I'm hosting two more yoga retreats this year, which are always magical experiences of people coming together to enrich and form friendships. There are only two rooms left for our North Carolina Hiking & Yoga Retreat. I would love for you to join us for this three night retreat of connection. Between now and August 24 use the discount code FRIEND to receive $50 off regular price. For a longer getaway, join us for our Bliss, Balance, and Beach Retreat at Las Catalinas, Costa Rica November 9 - 16, 2024. There are three rooms left for that retreat.
I'm also considering scheduling more local gatherings in Colorado to foster community that are two to four hours long. Stay tuned for more details as this idea takes shape. I look forward to spending more quality time connecting with you.
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