Don't be a robot!

Community is important, but it is just a part of the answer to an extremely complex and daunting question, or set of questions, really. Some of those questions being: How do we clean up this mess created by "civilization"? How do we give a voice to those who don't have one- human and nonhuman? What can we do, on the fringes, that will make an impact well beyond where we stand? And where the hell do we begin as individuals, or neighbors, or organized groups?

While these questions may not seem straight-forward to some, neither is the concept of community as an answer to these questions. To put it simply, community is one of the most pure and natural elements we have left in our society. If, for you, community means a group of neighbors that get together to cook, talk, and hang out, then it was most likely developed out of a genuine desire to spend time with one another. If, instead, your community is a group of people that share passions, values, talents, ideas, or objectives, then it was developed out of a need to build on those talents or ideas, and collectively work towards your objectives. Whatever your definition of community, it is one of few constructions we humans have developed that does not necessarily destroy the surrounding environment, and in many cases, works to protect it.


The types of questions I posed have been asked by many people, and probably for as long as "civilization" has become the destructive force that it is. What I'm talking about is the big picture- arguably the biggest picture there is. In dealing with such a complex array of issues, the simplest solution would be to start small, with something that's easy or familiar to you. Building human relationships should be simple because it's "a part of our nature" or "common sense". However, thanks to technological advancements, globalization, general laziness, and a subsequent detachment from our surroundings, many of us humans have lost touch with our natural ability and instinct to build organic human relationships. Well, if there is ever a place to start creating solutions to this disaster, this is it.

First order of business: be a human, not a robot, and treat others as living beings too!

I'm sure as hell glad it's summer.

I am sporadically faithful to my personal journal, and often when I look back at entries from last year, last month, or even yesterday, I find myself thinking "Well, that's not me today at all". In this case, I'm extremely grateful that a certain entry does not reflect my outlook for today. This excerpt is from a cold, dark, depressing February 7th, 2009 entry, when I was struggling with the move back to Maryland...

How much time is enough time to give a place a chance? Sometimes this solitude is so heavy that I'm pushing against it with all my strength and I still feel crushed. I can't help but feel envious that I'm so lost and alone and everyone I know seems to have found their place (for the moment, at least)...I need to be in an environment that nurtures my ideas and intentions. I need to be surrounded by people that I trust and respect and care about, and share curiosities and ideas with. I need to be surrounded by people that love being outside, that love to cook and listen to music and laugh, that provide insight and fresh perspectives, that care about the earth and their community, and the movements that serve to protect all those things. I want to selflessly give to my people and my community because it wouldn't occur to me to be any other way. I just don't know if I can find that here.

Fortunately I did find that. But looking back, it's clear that my loneliness and isolation were a direct result of feeling disconnected from my environment. This is why "community" is important to me. This is one reason why I think so many people feel lost and alone, even in the middle of a bustling city, and don't know why.

I live in a neighborhood that I don't particularly like, but I work in a neighborhood that I love, and enjoy being a part of. So at the end of the day, I like to go home and sleep in my bed, but my community and sense of belonging lives somewhere else.