What is a community? Merriam-Webster defines it as “a unified body of individuals.” Author and analyst Brian Solis offers a more philosophical characterization as he focuses on the potential power of this entity: “Community is much more than belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter.” What is the power of community?
The Power of Community
Being part of a community can offer benefits that anyone would be happy to have. Unfortunately, it can sometimes seem like joining a community becomes trickier as you age. However, there are ways even seniors can find their place in a new circle.
The Benefits of Community
When you join a group, you’re pooling resources. That creates some real advantages for everyone:
- Motivation. In vibrant communities, there is a push to work together to accomplish specific projects. This sense of camaraderie is empowering and tempts people to get involved.
- Inspiration. Seeing progress in areas can inspire others to take on leadership roles in projects that they care about, spurring greater community involvement.
- Experience. When a group of people gathers together, they bring their shared experiences to the table. Instead of just one person’s mistakes and wins to learn from, you can draw from those of the entire assembly. This wider diversity may help you make a stronger plan and find better resources.
- Opportunities. In an active community, there’s always something going on. That means there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved.
- Contacts. When you have a wide range of social contacts, you aren’t stuck paging through the phone book when you need a particular service. You can reach out within the community for recommendations. In a similar fashion, if you’re hoping for an introduction to a specific person, someone in your social network may be able to oblige you.
- Fun. The power of community isn’t just in its practical benefits. The social aspect is also important. Humans are social creatures, so the ability to talk, share stories, and laugh shouldn’t be discounted.
Ways Seniors Can Join a Community
Children often seem to tumble into friendships with ease. For adults, it’s a different story. Joining a community or forming friendships can be difficult. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. You simply have to work a little harder to create the possibility:
- Extend and accept invitations. Sitting at home won’t help you get involved. If you want to find a place in a larger group, you have to put yourself out there. That means reaching out to others and accepting the hands that are extended to you if you’re interested in learning more about their offer.
- Volunteer. Volunteering for a cause that you care about can be a great way to meet people with interests and values similar to yours.
- Join a faith community. Faith communities often have special events that can provide opportunities for members to interact and get to know one another.
- Take up a new interest. Taking a class online or in person, attending a lecture, touring a museum, or going to the gym can help you explore a new interest and improve your well-being. It may also provide a chance to connect with people who have similar interests.
- Join a senior living community. Moving into a senior living community can be a fantastic way to become a part of a new social group. These communities are designed to offer friendly, people-based atmospheres, so you’ll find activities and events to help you engage with your new neighbors. Most communities have supportive staff on hand who are ready to assist you if you run into trouble or have ideas to share about future events or happenings.
As Forbes points out, people who are socially engaged tend to age better, experience less stress, recover more quickly from illness, deal with less memory loss, and live longer overall. Clearly, the power of community can be incredibly uplifting.
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Jumuiya ni nini? "Mariam-Webster inafafanua kama ""mwili wa umoja wa watu,"" mwandishi na mchambuzi Brian Solis anatoa maelezo ya kifalsafa zaidi wakati anajikita katika nguvu ya uwezo wa kitu hiki: ""Jumuiya ni zaidi ya kuwa na kitu; ni kuhusu kufanya kitu pamoja ambayo inafanya kuwa na kitu.""" Nguvu ya Jumuiya Kuwa sehemu ya jamii kunaweza kutoa faida ambazo mtu yeyote angekuwa na furaha kuwa nazo. Kwa bahati mbaya, wakati mwingine inaweza kuonekana kama kujiunga na jamii inakuwa ngumu zaidi kama wewe umri. Hata hivyo, kuna njia ambazo hata wazee-wazee wanaweza kupata mahali pao katika jamii mpya. Faida za Jumuiya Unapojiunga na kikundi, unashiriki rasilimali. Hiyo hutokeza faida fulani halisi kwa kila mtu: - Kichocheo. Katika jumuiya zenye nguvu, kuna msukumo wa kufanya kazi pamoja ili kutimiza miradi hususa. Hisia hii ya urafiki inawezesha na kuwashawishi watu kushiriki. - Msukumo. Kuona maendeleo katika maeneo inaweza kuhamasisha wengine kuchukua majukumu ya uongozi katika miradi ambayo wanahusika nayo, kuchochea ushiriki mkubwa wa jamii. - Uzoefu. Wakati kikundi cha watu hukusanyika pamoja, wao huleta uzoefu wao wa pamoja kwenye meza. Badala ya kujifunza kutokana na makosa na ushindi wa mtu mmoja tu, unaweza kujifunza kutokana na yale ya kusanyiko lote. Tofauti hii kubwa inaweza kukusaidia kufanya mpango imara zaidi na kupata rasilimali bora. - Fursa. Katika jamii yenye shughuli nyingi, sikuzote kuna jambo linalotukia. Hilo lamaanisha kwamba kutakuwa na fursa nyingi za kushiriki. - Mawasiliano. Wakati una mbalimbali ya mawasiliano ya kijamii, wewe si kukwama paging kupitia kitabu cha simu wakati unahitaji huduma maalum. Unaweza kuwasiliana na jamii kwa mapendekezo. Kwa njia hiyohiyo, ikiwa unatarajia kutambuliwa na mtu fulani hususa, huenda mtu fulani katika mtandao wako wa kijamii akakupa pendeleo hilo. - Ni jambo la kufurahisha. Nguvu ya jamii si tu katika faida zake za vitendo. Sehemu ya kijamii pia ni muhimu. Wanadamu ni viumbe wa kijamii, kwa hiyo uwezo wa kuzungumza, kushiriki hadithi, na kucheka haupaswi kupuuzwa. Njia za Wazee Kujiunga na Jumuiya Mara nyingi inaonekana kwamba watoto hujiunga na marafiki kwa urahisi. Kwa watu wazima, ni hadithi tofauti. Kujiunga na jumuiya au kufanyiza urafiki kwaweza kuwa vigumu. Hilo halimaanishi kwamba haliwezi kufanywa. Lazima tu ufanye kazi kwa bidii kidogo ili kuunda uwezekano: - Kuongeza na kukubali mialiko. Kukaa nyumbani hakutakusaidia kushiriki. Ikiwa unataka kupata nafasi katika kikundi kikubwa, lazima ujitolee mwenyewe. Hiyo inamaanisha kuwasiliana na wengine na kukubali mikono ambayo imeongezwa kwako ikiwa una nia ya kujifunza zaidi juu ya ofa yao. - Kujitolea. Kujitolea kwa sababu unayoipenda inaweza kuwa njia nzuri ya kukutana na watu wenye maslahi na maadili sawa na yako. - Kujiunga na jumuiya ya imani. Mara nyingi, jamii za kidini huwa na matukio ya pekee ambayo yanaweza kuwapa washiriki nafasi ya kuingiliana na kufahamiana. - Kuchukua maslahi mapya. Kuchukua darasa mtandaoni au moja kwa moja, kuhudhuria hotuba, kutembelea makumbusho, au kwenda kwenye mazoezi ya mwili kunaweza kukusaidia kugundua maslahi mapya na kuboresha hali yako ya afya. Pia inaweza kutoa nafasi ya kuwasiliana na watu walio na mapendezi kama yako. - Kujiunga na jamii ya wazee-wazee. Kuishi katika jamii ya wazee inaweza kuwa njia nzuri ya kuwa sehemu ya kikundi kipya cha kijamii. Jamii hizi zimetengenezwa kutoa mazingira ya kirafiki, ya watu, kwa hivyo utapata shughuli na hafla za kukusaidia kushiriki na majirani wako wapya. Jamii nyingi zina wafanyakazi wa msaada karibu ambao wako tayari kukusaidia ikiwa utapata shida au una mawazo ya kushiriki juu ya matukio ya baadaye au matukio. "Kama Forbes inavyoonyesha, watu wanaohusika katika shughuli za kijamii huzeeka vizuri, wanapata mkazo mdogo, hupona haraka kutokana na magonjwa, wanakabiliana na upungufu mdogo wa kumbukumbu, na kwa ujumla wanaishi muda mrefu zaidi.""" Ni wazi kwamba nguvu ya jumuiya yaweza kuwa yenye kuburudisha sana. Unatumaini kustaafu huko Nebraska? Usiangalie mbali zaidi kuliko Kinship Pointe. Tunatoa jamii za kuishi kwa msaada na kuishi kwa kujitegemea katika maeneo manne: Kearney Northridge, McCook, Seward, na Wayne. Katika Kinship Pointe, wafanyakazi wetu wa kupendeza hufanya kazi kila siku kusaidia wakazi kufuatilia shauku zao na kuishi maisha kwa ukamilifu. Ili kujifunza mwenyewe nini hufanya Kinship Pointe maalum sana, ratiba ya ziara au kuwasiliana nasi online.