This week: On Community Edited by: Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline  
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Community matters. That is especially true during times of crisis.
This week's Spiritual Newsletter is all about the value of mutual care and support.
Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline |
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I'm one of nature's introverts. I don't dislike people, but being around others tends to drain me, and I need time and space to recharge. It's a good thing, then, that I like my own company. I hardly ever get bored. There are many solitary activities that I enjoy, from reading and writing to drawing, and my studies, and researching whatever subjects my mind has nudged to the forefront of my attention.
This means that living in lockdown has not been as difficult for me as it has been for many others. Being a carer, I haven't been confined to my home. I have been helping out where I can. And being unable to socialise – other than with my husband, who I share a house with – has not been a struggle for me. Even within our home I have my own room, which I spend quite a bit of time in doing my own thing. I know that there are many jokes about men needing a 'man cave' but some of us women like our own little space, too! It's good to have that peace and quiet. But I know that there are many people who thrive on social interaction. Whose batteries get charged by being around others. I understand that it must be very difficult to not be with other people if it is like that for you.
Whilst I may be a natural at social distancing, even I understand the value of community. My grandmother is the head of a church with a high proportion of older members. For a lot of these members, church services are a valuable source of social contact and support. Now that these services have fallen away, my grandmother feared that people might feel lonely and isolated. In an effort to reach out and ensure that they do not feel alone, she has set up a WhatsApp group and services are held over the Internet. It may not be the same, but the community remains, and it has turned out that with the services going online, they have caught the interest of people who'd not visited the church before. My grandmother is considering to still run the online services when things return to normal because online or offline, community is community – not everyone can attend in person.
Some people live in supportive communities. Some don't. I have heard wonderful stories of support networks set up to assist elderly people and more vulnerable members of society in these times. There are genuinely good people who are going out of their way to help others. They strengthen my faith in humanity.
Around here the support is not as great as you'd expect from a village. A larger portion than I'd imagined pay absolutely no attention to social distancing guidelines. Groups of kids play in the street. Teenagers hang out together. Groups of people hold barbecues. From morning until well into the evening there are people out and about and going anywhere, for example to the village shops, feels like running the gauntlet. Just today, however, I have heard of a village food hub being set up to help people who are struggling to get to the shops. It really made me smile to finally see some community spirit.
Still, there are many people who are alone and/or who miss the social activities that were a big part of their lives. And it may be a while still before life resumes some kind of normality. The Internet, here, can help once more, enabling people to have video chats with friends and family. Some communities here in Britain hold virtual quiz nights. Every Friday, for 24 – 48 hours (depending on where you live) The Shows Must Go On! uploads a different musical. I loved watching The Phantom of the Opera! Likewise, the National Theatre offers a different show each week. Currently on offer is Antony and Cleopatra. Watching these shows at home is far from the same as being there, especially being there with others, but I find that these little treats help in these difficult times. I may be an introvert but I am not entirely unaffected by what we're going through. It is horrible.
One community that I know is always there for you is our very own Writing.Com community. There are a lot of good people on this website. People who care for the other and who support the other. Don't be afraid to reach out. It only takes a post on your newsfeed to begin a conversation. 
Wishing you all the best,
Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline
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The Spiritual Newsletter Team
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Spiritual: May 13, 2020 Issue [#10173]
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