Friendship, Support, Community, Laughter, Strength in Numbers" There's No End to the Benefits Of Belonging to a Group!

As summer approaches, many people can become increasingly isolated as they protect themselves from the heat. Many of the activities that people enjoy in the winter or the spring may be difficult to enjoy in our summer temperatures. A reduction in physical or social activities can lead to an increase in stress and/or depression symptoms....which often perpetuates patterns of isolation and loneliness. The questions below are designed to help you determine how well prepared you are to maintain a healthy balance of connection. (Insert the sentence that is shown in bold). The answers may not come easily to you. Try to answer them as honestly as you can. As you consider or discuss your thoughts you can determine how well prepared you are to maintain a healthy balance of connection to those people, places, or activities that you most enjoy! To assess the benefits of your community memberships:

1. Where do you feel the strongest bonds of connection? Is it when you are with other people? When you are involved with institutions, such as your job or church? Which do you prefer: ideas or ideals? Pets, people, or nature? What strengthens these bonds? What loosens them?
   
   
2. Who, or what, delights you? What group(s) do you belong to-or would you join-for the sheer pleasure of it?
   
   
3. What action would you take if you knew that others would support you? What kind of support would you need? What resources would you need (materials, money, or people)? Whom would you enlist to help you?
   
   
4. Is it time to expand your circle? Make a list of ten friends you'd like to invite over for dinner.
   
   
5. Whom do you admire for their ability to bring people together? (Think of relatives, friends, teachers, mentors, community or world leaders.) What qualities stand out in the person-or people-you chose? How could you develop those qualities in yourself?