Bowen Island is such a special place. I don’t need to convince anyone of this fact. We have a really unique opportunity to live on such a beautiful island where we are all in relatively close proximity to each other and our shared common spaces with plenty of nature and space all around.
I want to emphasize just how unique this opportunity is and how it presents us with so many possibilities for building a deep resilient community that can lead to strong social, environmental and emotional health outcomes.
I’ve lived on Bowen for close to eight years now and I am still struck by the magic this place holds. Just the other week I was dining at one of our local restaurants with a dear friend to be met with the familiar faces of other friends I bumped into while in the Cove. Small town living at its finest! I can go to the Cove for groceries to end up running into the many people I’ve met and connected with over the years.
These moments, however small, safeguard us from falling in to the trap of modern society – one of anonymity and isolation. Having people smile in recognition of us, or gently tap us on our arm to say hello, sharing a laugh at the general store while we go about our daily errands... These experiences leave us with a felt sense of being seen and dare I say a sense of belonging to a place. One of our basic universal human needs.
I have literally come back transformed from my experiences at the Ruddy by simply having small chats or sharing in a funny moment with a friend or acquaintance. These small interactions become the building blocks for our day. Connection, as we all know, is the antidote to loneliness.
These times we are living in are heavy. There’s no doubt about it, we’ve all been impacted by the growing sense of uncertainty and threat posed by pandemics, wars, skyrocketing inflation, the ever growing extreme weather events of climate change etc... There is much to feel anxious and worried about these days.
Stability and predictability seem to have taken a long walk in the woods and are being replaced with an ever growing sense of confusion, fear and disorientation. Where are we going? What is there to hang on to during these most stressful times?
One of the lessons I’ve learned over these last few years is that I can’t get to the shoreline alone. That we need each other now, more then we ever have. Modern convenience and comforts are great, but they don’t build resilience or community. When things start to shift drastically (as they have over these last few years) we are left with a new unease – an understanding that nothing is guaranteed and that life itself can be chaotic and stormy, that we are truly vulnerable.
We need to shelter ourselves and each other from the storm and we do so by coming together. By learning to ask for help when we’re struggling, by gathering with neighbours, friends, family. Breaking bread and celebrating, dancing, laughing, even weeping and grieving together. All of it is too heavy a burden to carry alone.
I’m sharing all of this with you because I have been entranced by the magic of this beautiful land, by the people that inhabit it, and by some other mysterious force that has brought us all here together. There are ways to build community connections that will and can safeguard you too during these extremely unpredictable and occasionally scary times.
Some examples include forming your own book club, starting a monthly breakfast club with friends, creating learning circles (there are currently two of these running on Bowen and you can reach out to me personally if you’re interested in learning more), building a network of parents to meet up with, joining a sports team or volunteering at one of our many volunteer associations.
I will leave you with these questions.... Where does community fit into your life? How can building a resilient community around you help you cope with the hardships of these times? What small step can you take today to reach out to someone in your social sphere? How can you practice asking for help? Where are you holding yourself back? How can you say yes to that next invitation or event? How can you step outside of your comfort zone and lean into the universal need to be seen, supported and held?
People come together best in times of crisis and celebration. We have been doing so since the dawning of time. Our ancestors have known hard times, we may soon know harder times, what is it that they relied on during those most darkest moments? When do people thrive as a collective – it is during these times of transition and upheaval.
When the storm hits people come together to help rebuild. I believe we are still weathering this storm and, because of that we need each other to help steer us toward safe harbour.
- Julie Hughes
Registered Professional Counsellor
[email protected]
