This season offers us many different gifts: Skills to think abstract and high level, to envision a brighter future, to work with others to achieve big goals, to be part of community, to belong, to make a difference and to join with like minded others.

Collectively in the western hemisphere, more of us are shifting away from individualism and coming back to the importance and necessity of community. Community is vital for mental health, for belonging, for change, for shaping the future, dismantling systems that benefit few, for neighbourhoods, to be and feel less alone and to have fun. To feel the power of community, is to feel people who are behind you and beside you and won't let you fall (or maybe more accurately, will help with a gentle landing and getting back up again). We are stronger together. We cannot do this alone.

For those of us who have experienced trauma at the hands of another, feeling into this can be challenging. Comfort in feeling held by another, trusting they will be there, feeling into the pleasure of community can be terrifying and inaccessible. If this resonates with you, start with it as an idea. What would community look like to you? Who would these people be? What qualities would you see in them? What would this community centre around (i.e. a walking group, environmental causes, support group, art, black lives matter….it can be anything!)?