Big hug Lady..... I don't venture too many places anymore but I used to do volunteer work all the time and that gave me a sense of community

If people struggle with it due to their diagnosis there are always mental health places to volunteer... I volunteered for a time at a Bipolar Assoc in Toronto and I found it empowering ... xo

I also am in search of a greater sense of community. The human connection is so important. This community and support is great but I crave more.

Thanks Sun and RbT for your experience.

I agree Sun that volunteering is a wonderful way to incorporate community into your life. I soooooo wish I had extra time and energy for more of it but I am bogged down with a really stressful job right now. That’s my issue - my job isn’t a sense of “community” and I don’t foresee that changing.

And community is a different idea than straight up relationships…. Its a feeling of being connected to something bigger as in a sense of fellowship with others. Feeling connected is important I find, esp for mental health management. None of us should ever feel isolation,….. connection can lift our spirits.

I know my neighbors well enough to talk to but almost never go out. Hubs gets me out once in a while by promising a stop at Goodwill. lol You just never really know if I can "people" or not until it happens.

In fact, we went shopping the other day, and it was not a "people" day. I lost hubs right off the get go. He went to the bathroom & I was distracted looking at things, then couldn't find him.

So, I got a few of the groceries and started passing back & forth across the front of the department where the bathrooms are. It's a big wide aisle but has displays & merchandise here & there down the middle. Some dude comes around from behind some stuff & cuts me off. Pretty keyed up at this point, I just blurt out (like an asshole), "Well, excuuuse me! Geez! F__k!" and he was startled, blurted out, "I'm sorry" then says "Jeezus!" and I say, "No, but thank you anyway." Bad enough, right? But wait! There's more!

Maybe 10 minutes later, still cruising solo teynna find hubs, and that guys sees me and starts approaching me saying something about how rude I am but I didn't let him finish. I said, "Back off me! Back the F up!. Step off and DO NOT even speak to me." and I wheeled my cart around and left him dumbfounded. I need adult supervision.

SensitiveHoboLady - can you build some community at work? Would they allow everyone to being in food for a Potluck Supper or anything like that?

For me, church is my community. But we were shut down and did zoom for 18 months. I play on a worship team, we do social events together. I also preach, but I did a terrible sermon last time. The sermon was good, the delivery terrible. That was preaching to a video machine!

But my RA has been raging. I haven't been able to play flute, or get up early enough to practice beforehand.

COVID has made me into an introvert. I've always been super outgoing. I found out I am much healthier with regards to wear a mask, and not getting colds that turn into pneumonias. So, I'm very isolated.

I really need a sense of community. I think the OP is very true. If I wasn't so physically sick, I could go back to church. Instead, I'm isolated, and no one is stepping up to even visit.

Passing4, I can assure you lots of shoppers through time need “adult supervision.” Haha. I spent two plus decades in retail crowds and if I would have been near you, I may have stepped into my conflict deescalation mindframe and tried to play peacekeeper. I honestly think if youve been away from people for any amount of time, you have to sort of reestablish basic human maneuvering again without getting irritable. It’s probably more common than we think.
I will make attempts at work to build community as best I can in coming months…for sure. A potluck is good. We can always keep trying…..

MarleneJ,
So wonderful to have church as your community. I tuned into some virtual services during the pandemic and yes, it’s different, but still engages our senses of Community with great impact. Maybe you can still offer a virtual sermon again? Or help to organize a soup kitchen or other event to help feed those in need? I know virtual isn’t ideal but I do think we can still make it valuable and work, especially for those with weakened immune systems. It’s *something* ….

I try to connect in my little pocket of my neighborhood to feel connected to community. I worked retail for soooooo, so long and I know what a difference a kind customer can make in someone’s day often filled with complaints. So I try to offer up some kindness….even when faced with gruff cashiers stuck in a grind I sometimes offer a bright hello anyway. Put in some good energy, you know?

I agree with Sun that mental health organizations are a great way to build that community sense. I need to make more time after work to build upon that…..use all those experiences in beneficial ways. I’ve participated where I can, but I seek more of it.

I think food is a good way to bring people together. Free food ... even better. lol

I wasn't totally awful on my day out. I asked a fella on an electric scooter if he needed me to grab something for him (he was scoping out the cheese on the upper shelves). We chatted briefly, and it was nice. Of that day, the best part was the 3 people that had been standing at one of the displays and who saw both instances where that guy & I met up. They totally dead-panned it through both times. lol Best poker faces ever!

I've only zoom conferenced once. Not a fan, but it was like a "business" thing with some of the developers at Avast, so I imagine it's better with people you know & like or that you are sharing with, as oppossed to reporting to.

Passing4, those little chats can be such pick-me-ups with people. Some ppl obviously are in their “don’t talk to me” mode haha but other times it feels good to feel that simple human connection. It’s true zoom and all that isn’t that same feeling but I still try to be animated and funny where I can. Especially with those virtual backgrounds.