According to the Cambridge dictionary, community in the context of human beings is defined as “people living in one particular area or people who are considered as a unit because of their common interests, social group, or nationality”.

The concept of community has been around for centuries and can be traced as far back as biblical ages where Eve was created as a mate for Adam to establish a family and thus build a community.

The concept of community has changed over time, now more than ever, access to the internet has allowed the most remote people in the world to become part of a wider community.

Although some may view online communities as lacking a human physical touch, one cannot ignore the fact that this is how the world operates in present times and has been for a while.

The recent global pandemic has expedited online communication with many people having to use online means of communication to stay connected with colleagues, family and friends.

With community also being defined as a unit of common interests or social group it is important not to limit oneself to the thought of community based on characteristics such as nationality, gender, age or religion.

A personal experience of community

Through my experience, I have found community in people from my own background as well as from other backgrounds.

What I have come to find is that we have more similarities than differences and more than often, there is a way to relate to someone from another community/background to you.

I have found that I have connected and built friendships with people through similar interests in sport or ambition by which I have been able to build my own community.

I also believe that community does not necessarily involve large numbers or a large following but where two or more are gathered to share common interests can sometimes be a much more beneficial community than a large group.

Cross the river in a crowd and the crocodile won’t eat you

African Proverb

One of the reasons The Will To Continue was created was for people from all walks of life to come together and share experiences in order to inspire and support each other.

We all know life is not all roses, however with the support of a good community we are able to unlock potential we never envisioned within ourselves.

Community lessons from Thailand

Above is an image I took on my iPhone 4 back in 2012 after having graduated from Middlesex University, London completing my undergrad in Business and Marketing.

I visited Thailand travelling to various cities and islands. This was in rural Thailand in a place called Sangkhla Buri District located in Kanchanaburi Province in western Thailand where the local men and women volunteered to maintain the upkeep of the bridge. The bridge known as Mon Bridge sadly collapsed the following year due to floods but has since been was reconstructed with the help of the local community.

Watching the men and women of Sangkhla Buri work in peace and harmony to maintain treasure of their land inspired me to one day build a community where we can all continue then succeed in our various areas of life.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

African Proverb

Creative steps to build or be part of a community

1. Know your intentions – Know why you would like to join a particular community. This could be a society at university or a network at your workplace.

2. Give freely without expecting anything in return – As I grow older the more I realised that you get more out of giving than receiving. Giving does not always equate to monetary value but simply helping a colleague who is stuck or reviewing a CV for a graduate is fulfilling.

3. Be your authentic self – This is something I now actively work towards. It is so liberating being your true self at all times. It is not easy as certain situations make it difficult but being your authentic self as much as possible will make you happier overall.

4. Be consistent – When you make a promise, deliver!. It is often said that it is better to under promise and overdeliver than vice versa.

5. Be involved – Get out there and be proactive with your community. I find events such as Parkrun have allowed me to be part of my local community and meet people who I otherwise would not have had a chance to get to know.