A friend of mine requested assistance with preparing a speech. I mention this not for the notion that I am a reliable individual - which I will honestly set aside the modesty to validate - but because of the message of his speech. Upon his discretion, I'd be able to disclose to you the particular instance and mentions of his speech, but the ultimate goal to deliver is his theme: community.
While his term of "community" may stem off in a different regard, his outline definitely did well explaining and relating the word "community" to its audience. At least, I would believe it should. Just for a clear and concise picture, however, dictionary.com defines "community" as:
1.
a social group of any size whose members reside
in a specific locality, share government, and often
That is the "by the book" and straight-edged answer. What we've come to associate with the word is a bit more of the social aspect more so than the limitations and liberties of the people and their environment. Community, to me, is a unit coming together. Friends, strangers - all of the likes within one area. They also share a mutual interest, a mutual goal, that they collectively attempt to fulfill to the best of their interests. Absurd, it'd seem, if one were to say that a community were a lump of beings that constantly struggled against one another for the purpose of destroying the entirety's evident coexistence.have a common cultural and historical heritage.
By nature, things are to repel and things are to attract. It is in this truth that we find particular things that we like, and things we do not. Our concept of other people are no different. However, it is because of what they do and, in particular, how they act most oft than not that determines whether they fall into our favor or not. And, ultimately, our friends are individuals who bring pleasure to us, via their mere presence and actions - hence, the significance of the word "friend".
It is important to keep an open mind of those around you. Society has been highlighting particular things that appease many or upset many. Unfortunately, only particular groups are being focused upon, instead of the entirety as a whole. Surely, it is sensible to work from the bottom to the top in essence of fortitude and support and what have you, but it is the largest notion - and no pun intended - to not forget about the bigger picture. With that being said, perspectives expanded, let us return to community.
What is it you picture when you think of community? Disregarding all the distractions that may pop up in your head, what words in particular define a community to you? Do the words fit an ambient and comfortable setting? Family, friends - familiar faces from front forthward, community assures us that it's a nice neighborhood, assures us that we're comfortable and safe - assures us that we're where we belong.
The company you keep should do that for you - assure you that you are where you belong, of course. It's important for you to feel more than welcomed and such, as there is no feeling in the world like the pride and contentment in being needed. And wanted. Not yearned for, and not depended upon, but out of the simple field of a friendship that keeps you on someone's mind at some point of the day. Your friends find you, they talk to you, you enjoy it, do you not? And, even if you should have some kind of discretion that leads to upsets and disappointments, the ground is there for you to pick up your pieces off of.
I hope that imagery settles: when you both are involved in the shattering, you both fall to the ground, and you both need to pick yourselves - and one another, hopefully - to piece yourselves together once again.
Friendships are as fragile as we make them. Strong bonds mean stronger friendships with less restrictions and greater flexibility. The reason why individuals can have best friends across a nation or on the other side of the world and still consider them the closest they've ever encountered, respectively, is due to their confiding in one another. The trust and bonding that they maintain. Friendship is an easy thing to start and have - a good friendship needs a little maintenance work.
And, with enough friendships, your bridges will eventually lead into areas where you already have other bridges - connections. And, by association, you will learn that the world you know is not as big as the world you think of, and that it is a small world indeed: it is your community.
The goal of the speech was to convey community, and with my spin on community given, I tie it further into the particulars of community: knowledge, confidence, communication and, by all means, compassion are only a few of the many avenues of a community.
Knowing what to do, who your friends are, just knowing what to say at whatever instance[s] necessary can build relationships that develop healthily. In due time, knowledge would be gained and knowledge of how to use that gained knowledge would then soon follow. Patience is a virtue, indeed, and it applies to just about everything worth waiting for - nurturing friendships in particular.
Having confidence in yourself and others can contribute to the entire system. Morale boosts come from an obvious change in confidence - from somber to absolutely resolved, people are capable of convincing themselves that anything - even the most unrealistic, irrational beliefs that they've fabricated themselves - can be true with just enough confidence. Confidence is a key ingredient in building one's own social component, and to lead into assisting the construction of a community.
And, from the confidence point, I'd just like to make a side anecdote. As par the regular experiences we've all shared, we grow from infancy into the stages of our lives: toddler, child, adolescent, pubescent, young adult, adult, and elder adult. There's always a progression in our lives, in one way, shape, or form, and there isn't much of anything we can do to change it. Taking the thoughts of life's progression and applying them to practicing something is a bit awry, but it's very similar: practice a sport or use a language or even repeat an action long enough and it will eventually refine itself and become better.
Rehearsals are getting better, I'll admit. And, not just for me, but the entirety of the cast. As we're learning together - albeit at different paces, some of us already with a head start - we've developed as a unit. As a community. And, today in particular displayed our progress. Performance on the second run-though [ after a set of intensive notes that were as definite as they were general ] proved to be a great improvement. And, as par custom, we were all loving one another as we normally would.
It was just today, knowing that the show's in about a week's time and knowing that we're excited to perform, our confidence amplified just about everything. That is, once we had it together. A surprise came to me when people did commendably so, and then the comments flowed my way as well. One individual, in particular, commented on my own performance, which apparently impressed him. The infamous Nicholas Siccone apparently couldn't stop smiling during my piece [ which was a drastic change, I'd presume ], and while I coolly didn't stumble for words in response, I'm certain it was more than apparent that he's like to be the most capable of the lot of us.
Swoon, swoon. Remember Samantha? First days of rehearsal, we all would mew in awe of the voices. Oh, the impressive and remarkable voices. Nick's was no different, and while I revered his skill - even as he may dismiss such appraisals - I wouldn't imagine the day when he commended my own. Not because he seemed to be condescending - not in the least. But... Y'know. It's just one of those things you don't think about.
And, with that feedback, I've a better understanding of my own self. Communication between myself and other members of the cast have made things much better, socially and performance-wise. I don't know how others consider their friendships to resolve, but mine do not: I would imagine that a friendship lasts as long as individuals consider themselves friends, so if you and I are friends - undefined by your status on any sort of social networking system to brandish and showcase who are in my keep - we will be friends until you or I have any discretion or issue with the notion.
And, knowing me, I won't have any issues with you.
And, knowing me, I won't let there be any issues for you to have with me.
It is not necessary to change yourself, to mold yourself to others and their fickle demands or pleasantries. However, do embrace who people like you for - the things you do, the things you say. Share what you have in your mind and your soul to better the community as a whole. Sharing is a portrayal of your commitment to compassion, the last point I'm going to discuss.
With all aspects of compassion in mind, it is good to keep a community healthy. When individuals are capable of relying on one another without a fright gripping at their hearts, a lot more is capable of being done. Why get offended by something when it was not intended to be directed towards anyone in any kind of negative manner? Why consider yourself lesser than other individuals entirely when you're just as remarkable as they are, only separated by the path effort and hard work they've already trudged, or need help, along?
Do you consider your circle of friends at school a community? What do you do within your community? Are they actual activities or behaviors of a communion with a feeling that radiates homage. Are you comfortable within your community?
Is there anyway to expand your community to incorporate all of those around you?
If you think of something, don't keep it in your head. Share it with someone and give your feet some purpose.
"Ora na azu nwa."
"Se requiere de todo un pueblo para criar a un niño."
"يقتضي وجود قرية كاملة لتربية طفل."
"它需要整個村莊養育一個孩子。"
"Quaerit puer totum pagum movere."
"It takes a village to raise a child."
- African Proverb
<3 ~ Monty
=]
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