Maybe it sounds strange to some, but when I think of trying to build community locally, I am afraid about a lot of things. I am afraid I won’t know what to say when I first meet someone (which is actually true…I’m notoriously horrible at making small talk and asking questions!) I am afraid people won’t like me once they really get to know me. I am afraid I won’t be able to keep up the energy required to sustain friendship. I am afraid our kids or our husbands won’t like each other. I’m afraid I will be judged for the choices I have made.
You get the idea…
Even though I have these fears, I can’t let them stop me from trying. In this age of digital everything where even “friendship” takes place in a virtual online reality, I must take the steps to try and forge real life community. I need flesh and blood friends, women who will sit with me over a cup of steaming hot tea and look into my eyes and ask me how I’m really doing. And I want to be able to do the same for them. We need each other. We were meant for real, messy, human relationships.
Am I still afraid? Yes, but I have to take that next step and reach out. Because I know I’m not the only one who has these fears. And I know that in the end, it will be worth it.
This post is part of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes and Write 31 Days blogging challenges. Find all my posts in this series under the tag “write31days2018.”