This is not the best picture that I have made, but it does represent people gathering and me being right there in the mix. Thus, a representation of me out in the community.
Under the goal for community, I had interacting with others (which included outings with friends and volunteering) and ecology.
Interacting with others: prior to the Covid pandemic, I had a weekly coffee with a neighbor and a monthly dinner with my Leather house. Then the pandemic came and those events became more sporadic. And, true to my introvert nature, isolating from others was not as painful for me as it was for others. However, I was missing connection with others…with people face-to-face, as I did have social media connection, which no longer felt enough.
As a result, my neighbors, Tom and Sharon, and I get together as a group or just Sharon and I for coffee several times a month now. It isn’t weekly, but that is OK. We have found our new norm. And, sometimes, it is several times a week as I share garden produce with them.
My Leather house also is more regular with the monthly dinner, but we also do other things together occasionally one on one…or two or three. I have learned to ask…to see if anyone else in my group might want to do an activity with me. Sometimes no, but more often yes. It feels good.
Volunteering: I had to put my dog down in January due to the decreased quality of life for her and the fact that she was too heavy for me to carry her. It was a sad time. And, for the first time in a very long while, I am pet-less. Friends suggested that I volunteer at rescue places or foster dogs…but I was afraid that I would become attached and want to adopt. And, the really nice part of being pet-less for now is that I can travel without having to be concerned about my pet at home. So…I wasn’t sure how to get involved.
Two ideas have become more interesting to me recently. One, volunteer at the local horse rescue. I wouldn’t be tempted to bring one home, and, as a younger person, I loved horses. Now, however, they intimidate me a bit. Still, maybe I could find a way to help out.
The other idea is to help out in person at the local food bank/meal for those in need place. I have learned that there is such in Aiken, near where I live. It might be a way that I could help the community with more than money.
Lastly, ecology. I am continuing many of the things that I had begun in recent years, compost pile and reduced use of plastic. I am now using microfiber cloths instead of paper towels, switching to bar soap vs. liquid body wash and soap packets for dishwasher rather than liquid, and I am burning my own paper trash in the fire pit rather than adding it to the landfill. I am down to one trip per week to the recycling center for recycling and once every two weeks for garbage. I am proud of my efforts and will continue to find other means of taking care of my little part of the earth.
Overall, I have done well so far with the Community goal. There is more to do, but I am gradually finding my own level with each sub-goal.
Feathers of My Mind 