engagement. In Bowling Alone: The
Collapse and Revival of American
Community (Simon & Schuster, 2001),
Harvard professor Robert D. Putnam, PhD,
writes that, since the late 1960s, Americans
have gradually abandoned organized
groups and societies in favor of more
cloistered lives. While “younger Americans
seemed to have turned a corner after 9/11,
in terms of group membership we see
no major change in the earlier trends,”
says Putnam. “Web 2.0 [Web-based com-munity] is important, but we see no net
gravitation back toward group activities.”
A Bounty of Benefits
It’s worth our while to fight this trend,
however, because community engagement doesn’t just improve our physical
health. When we build connections with
others, we reap social, emotional and
psychological rewards.
Indeed, when brain function is studied by advanced imaging technology, the
act of helping others activates the brain’s
pleasure center, asserts David C. Korten,
PhD, author of When Corporations Rule
the World (Berrett-Koehler, 1995). We
get a rush of good feelings when we’re
connected with others.
Civic and social gatherings have practical benefits, too. You may hear about a
restaurant worth trying, learn about an
internship tailor-made for your niece or
meet a dentist who can squeeze you in
that very afternoon to fix your toothache.
The right type of event can also lift your
mood. If your monthly community meeting has a guest speaker on the joys of gardening or there’s an upcoming neighborhood party, it can take your mind off your
daily worries and get you thinking about
those much more enjoyable pursuits.
Community engagement doesn’t just
improve our physical
health. When we build
connections with
others, we reap social,
emotional and psychological rewards.
There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for
identifying the right club, organization
or society for you. So consider your
interests and priorities.
What types of activities are you
drawn to right now? Do you want to help
affect changes in your neighborhood?
Help homeless animals? See your close
friends more often? Get outside more?
Once you’ve narrowed your interests,
you’ll have a better idea where to direct
your energy.
Next, assess your time availability. If
you have some room in your schedule,
consider a bigger commitment: Join a
civic group or the board of your neighborhood council; volunteer at a hospital,
homeless shelter or the local library.
If your time is at a premium, start
small. Invite a few friends over for a low-key dinner. Volunteer to staff the sales
booth for the annual library book sale.
Or tag along with friends to see if one of
their community activities suits you.
Whatever club, organization or community activity you select, remember that
the activity itself is important, but secondary. What really counts is time spent
with others in a ritualized setting around
a common goal or activity.
So jump in and give it a go. Before
long, you will be reaping the rewards of
community engagement and feeling a
part of something bigger.
Wanda Urbanska is a sustainability
activist and author of The Heart of
Simple Living: 7 Paths to a Better Life
(Krause, 2010). She is the host and
producer of Simple Living, which airs
nationally on public television.
GETTING MORE COMMUNITY
in your life starts with determining what type of community
experience feels most energizing and appealing to you right
now. Here’s some advice for
deciding what’s right for you:
1. Evaluate your interests
and dreams. If you love to
build things, you may wish to
join Habitat for Humanity. If
you want to socialize while
improving your public speaking
skills, consider signing up for
Toastmasters. Love animals but
your apartment’s too small or
your life’s too busy? Volunteer
at an animal shelter.
2. Identify your own unmet
needs. If you feel confined
inside by your desk job, join a
hiking group or bird-watching
club, or volunteer to take urban
kids out on nature hikes. You’ll
get to engage with others while
enjoying the great outdoors.
3. Never choose an activity because you think you
should. The last thing you want
to do with your free time is take
on an added obligation out of
duty rather than desire. If you
couldn’t give two hoots about
city government, don’t join the
neighborhood board!
4. If no club exists to meet
your needs, start one. Cecile
Andrews, coauthor of Less is
More: Embracing Simplicity
for a Healthy Planet, a Caring
Economy and Lasting Happiness
(New Society, 2009), orga-
nized a weekly neighborhood
gathering in Seattle called the
Think Tank. At the gather-
ings, neighbors discuss current
events and ideas — and just
hang out. Says Andrews, “The
best thing you can do for your-
self is spend time with others in
warm, supportive conversation
or activities.”
Join
the Club!
