Topic Tuesday // Finding community: Feeling belonging and connection // Tuesday 7th December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

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@chibam wrote:

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Community depends on you having the freedom to be authentic!

This is so true @chibam. Similarly to you, I have had to learn over the years that there are times when I can't be what a community needs, or would have to change myself to 'fit'. There are times I have left communities and found new ones who value who I am, respect my boundaries and celebrate my authenticity 🙂

@Henry The thing is, I don't feel like I've accomplished anything. Sure, there were things along the way, like passing a flight test, that I felt pretty good about, but what have I really got? A broken family, a failed relationship, and seemingly no way forward.

Sometimes belonging for me means the freedom to take risks!

Oh, that sounds so interesting @CapnWannabe to have the chance to get to be an instructor at flyign school!! Incredible!
There aren't too many supports really for single parent's so having that sole responsibility I imagine would be quite big. Sounds like you're doing your best and have a lot of care for your family.

@Former-Member reciprocity and trust are so important. I also really relate to your acknowledgement that connection can happen outside of communities as well. Sometimes that self belonging to a place or a space can add lots of value, such as in nature for you 🙂 For me, it's when I am in water.

Hi everyone.
Belonging feels like I've made connections and that I'm treated respectfully and like I am valued. It means making a difference and wanting to come to the group or the community without feeling like I have to as a commitment of sorts. It's about looking forward to the adventures and things that are happening in the community and for me, especially here in Sane, about knowing that someone cares about you if you are going through a hard time, such a depressive period or episode. It's knowing that you matter and that's important to me, especially since I've struggled with groups and different communities in the past. Things like being competitive and overbearing people are things that I find hard to deal with in groups.

Judi9877

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@nony wrote:
Laughter and hugs are my biggest values that i look for. The ability to laugh at the darkest side of where our lives have taken us and the freely given care and unspoken words of support and encouragement from the gift of a hug. These are the best healing actions I've been gifted throughout my journey to recovery and back to society.

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Such important values @nony, and as you mentioned such an important part of healy and recovery 🙂 Have you been able to find communities that share these same values?

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@Daisydreamer wrote:

4. What does belonging look and feel like to you?

@Former-Member @nony @CapnWannabe @outlander @Shaz51 @Judi9877 @chibam @still_bookish @Bunniekins @HenryX @Mystickate

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IMHO, it's the sense that what you say and do not only matters, but that it is an asset to the group; and conversely, the group is likewise an asset to you, because you are all communally building towards what you aspire towards.

You know you belong when you trust the captain; your happy with the direction the ship is going.

I often think that you'd know when you found your community if it was an environment where you'd be happy to be a ghost. If you'd be quite happy just powerlessly watching this team proceed along it's journey, without any capacity to correct or alter what their doing.