Chats with Ingrid by INGRID MALDONADO
I didn’t realize how much I needed people until I had them.
Having a strong community is important in all aspects of life. I remember a time when I had just moved back to Alva, I went through a breakup, and it was like I had to start all over. The connections I used to have were all from high school and so I had little to no community.
Now at the time I believed I was doing ok. I had a job, so I was making money. I was investing more time in my business. I was making friends at work. I was working out to get in more shape. So, it seemed like I had everything.
Then months later, after what felt like being at my lowest, I started to build my own community. Now I wasn’t purposefully going out and recruiting people for my community, it just kind of happened. It was like I started subconsciously planting seeds.
Did it just happen while I was at home watching TV? No. I started going back to my church, I joined one of their bible studies and there I met some amazing people. There I met Julie, who invited me to a workout class.
From there at the workout class, I met Chloe. It was like a snowball effect. After meeting them, they became some of my close friends. I later met more friends, became more involved in school, started a new bible study and was surrounded by some genuine, caring people.
I am blessed to have created this community that I have. I have people that I can count on, who genuinely care for me and who lead as great examples. It isn’t just one person, it is multiple.
When you have community, you are supported by multiple people during uncertain times. As human beings, we need community to survive. Having community brings us a sense of belonging and encouragement.
Like I said earlier, I didn’t realize how much I needed people until I had them.