We throw the word community around a lot. What does it mean? Is it about people thinking the same thoughts or values? Is it centered on an activity, like a sport or one specific group?

Personally, when I think of community, I think about people who I want to be around that will (unintentionally or intentionally) make me feel like my best self. Finding that is easier said than done, but when you strip away the tagalong buzzwords, community is really about something simple and very much human: people coming together.

It’s the fuel for change when conversations get hard, and a safety net when things in life might take a left turn. It’s messy sometimes, sure, but it’s also powerful. And in a world that can often push the importance of individuality, remembering the power of community feels more essential than ever...