community and the part we all play

kaila o.
Jan 14
3 min read

Today is UnWind Wednesday and it's only right we begin with intentional breathing. Whether you're at home, your job, sitting or standing, follow along with me:

sit or stand up tall, then roll your shoulders back
deep inhale through your nose...*purse your lips* then exhale out of your mouth
repeat-inhale & notice how your diaphragm expands, breathe in 2 more seconds
AHHH big exhale out of your mouth
one more time: inhale through your nose, lift through the crown of your head, then exhale out of your mouth
Anddd roll your shoulders back 3 times, and relax

community: a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals (Oxford Languages)

This post was inspired by separate conversations I recently had with two family members. A cousin has taken the initiative to launch a family website, relaunch a family foundation, organize meetings to build all this, plan a family reunion, and organize the committee groups around this large reunion. Now did they do all of this on their own? No. Ideas were brainstormed and shared, others volunteered their time, resources, and expertise to collaborate. He brought the vision to life with execution. One might think this is an older cousin, maybe even a retiree, but no. They are in their late 30s with a large family of their own. The cousins in my age group left the meeting with various perspectives: inspired, excited, the thought of "I could never do all this" or "I want to do more to contribute to this". The lesson here: Family. Friends. Your neighborhood or apartment. Fitness. Music, Photography. Politics. Community is everywhere and we all play a part, micro or macro, to keep this ship afloat.

we all play a part, micro or macro, to keep this ship afloat

Community is more than merely a buzzword right now for expensive events with goodie bags (not in this economy ?!) or entrepreneurs with some clout to make a quick buck. It's intentional, and truly doesn't start with the two I just mentioned...it starts with you. While community can and should be joyous, upbeat, and even around hobbies, it also can be challenging, tiresome, inconvenient, and not always "fun". However, small moments of care build a life full of love, camaraderie, and belonging.

Additional Examples:

Joining your neighborhood's committee because you've thought "how can my place of living improve?" even when meetings are Saturday morning and you want to sleep in.
Picking a friend or loved one up from the airport when its a 30+ minute drive.
Helping a friend set up and decorate their apartment for their birthday even if it's last minute, but you have the time.
Taking the train then bus to take bring a grieving friend some food and companionship.
*a few personal examples recently.

pause & reflect: how do I define community and have my actions aligned with the community I want to build?

Community doesn’t require everyone to be the visionary, the organizer, or the loudest voice in the room. It asks us to be honest about the role we can play right now. Sometimes that role is leading. Other times it’s supporting, showing up, sharing a resource, spreading the word, or simply being consistent. The work looks different in every season of life, but the responsibility doesn’t disappear when things get busy, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. Community thrives when we stop waiting for “the right time” and start participating with what we have—energy, skills, presence, or even curiosity.

Staying engaged is a practice, not a personality trait. It’s choosing connection when it would be easier to disengage. It’s showing up during the slow moments, the awkward moments, and the hard ones—not just when it’s exciting or aesthetically pleasing. Whether your contribution feels small or substantial, it matters. Ships don’t stay afloat because of one person at the helm; they move because everyone plays their part. And when we commit to our role—again and again—we don’t just strengthen community, we become it.