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My online friends are real friends. They come up in my offline conversations. I mention things they’ve said and done (i.e. posted publicly) in discussions with others in the real world. Even things my online friends and I have chatted about via DM or email. Most of whom I’ve never met IRL.
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Community is built on conversation and connection and it doesn’t matter where or how that happens. Email and text and trading blog posts may not be as… Impactful? …as face-to-face but they all count.
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I suck at prioritizing my friendships and maintaining connection just as much offline as I do on. The truth of the matter is that I’m a natural introvert, tend to focus on the people right on front of me (my wife and daughter), and always put off even my most immediate community.
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I have a very full and busy life. One I’m thankful for but, often, leaves me depleted of energy and time. The truth is if it’s not specifically on my calendar it effectively does not exist.
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Yet, looking at my calendar I see rigging for Circus, I see neighborhood soup nights, I see client appointments, I see board meetings, I see Parent Association meetings… All of these are also, wait for it… Communities!
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Maybe I don’t suck at community at all. Maybe I just need to make more time for the ones I’ve neglected tending to.
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Just know, online or offline, you matter equally to me. Community exists and can be strong and vibrant anywhere you build it. There is no separation.