As we age, we face new challenges in our personal lives. For women over 50, these challenges may include children moving out (or staying home), hormonal imbalances, health concerns, and aging parents. In such times, the importance of community becomes increasingly evident.
While the internet and social media provide opportunities to connect with people from all over the world and on every topic, this shift has resulted in a terrible loss – the value of traditional face-to-face communities for women over 50. The intangible benefits of connecting in person cannot be replaced by digital interactions.
Everyone benefits greatly from a supportive network of like-minded individuals who understand their experiences and can offer guidance and support. There is no substitute for the warmth and comfort of a hug from a friend, the joy of sharing a laugh together, or the sense of security that comes from knowing you have people in your corner who care about you.
Sharing in-person experiences including a meal, cooking, walking in nature, listening and interacting with speakers, and having a fun weekend away at a retreat facility, helps to provide intimacy and better understanding which is key to building strong and lasting connections with others.
Harvard study, almost 80 years old, has proved that embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier
Research has shown that good social relationships are the most consistent predictor of a happy life. Satisfying relationships not only make people happy, but they are also associated with better health and even longer life.
Over the past year, I have been soaking in as much as I can about a passion of mine, holistic health and well-being. It’s an approach to wellness that includes all aspects of one’s life such as physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual states of being and needs. I realized that I would love to share what I found with my community, and encourage discussion and further learning.
Therefore, I have decided to build a community of like-minded women who connect on similar passions and values. I will share with you the learning from the various topics, that we decide to tackle. I will also highlight any experiences such as events, outings, creative projects, and recipes along the way in the form of Blog Posts.
Create a Community of Your Own
In addition to creating a fun, supportive, inquisitive, positive-minded community of my own, I hope to inspire you to do the same. You can do anything you put your mind to. It starts with reaching out to just a couple of people and picking a date, preferably the same day and time each month, so that people can put it into their busy calendars.
When we come together in person, we form deeper, more meaningful relationships. When you’re face-to-face with someone, you can read their body language, hear the tone of their voice, and pick up on subtle nuances that can’t be conveyed through a screen. The beauty of sharing our experiences with each other is that we can both learn from and help others as we navigate the next 50 years with a strong supportive group of people who we know and love.
If you are a woman over 50, I encourage you to consider joining or creating a face-to-face community of like-minded individuals who can provide guidance, support, and share in life’s experiences with you. The benefits of such a community are immeasurable and will undoubtedly enhance your life in ways you never thought possible. The way I see it, you have nothing to lose.
