Building Community: How to Create a Village

Imagine a group of women, coffee in hand, passionately discussing their latest ventures and debacles, sharing tips on balancing work and family, and laughing together.

It’s in these spaces that true magic happens.

When you move beyond the computer and phone screens, and you start sharing your everyday experiences with other women, your shoulders start to relax, you breathe easier, and you just don’t feel so darn alone anymore. As adults, it’s not as easy as it used to be.

How to Create Your Village:

1. Do it on Purpose: Seek out groups, events, or online spaces that align with your values and goals. In Tinley Park, there are so many opportunities, from local business women's networks to mom's groups, and book clubs. Look to see what’s available in your community.

2. Show Up as often as you can: Building relationships takes time and effort. Attend meetings, participate in discussions, and be present. Is it all ruined if you have to miss something? Of course not! Make a coffee date to catch up on what you missed.

3. Be Authentic: Share your real self – your triumphs and your struggles. Vulnerability fosters deeper connections. No one is perfect, and when you show people the glorious messy parts of your life, they breathe easier too.

4. Give and Take: Offer help, share your knowledge, and celebrate others' successes wholeheartedly. The more you pour into your community, the more it will pour back into you. Also, ask for help. People thrive when they have a sense of utility, and asking for someone else’s help might be exactly what they need. 

5. Be Patient: Strong communities aren't built overnight. They evolve organically through consistent effort and genuine connection. Take your time. Remind yourself to reach out because, face it, you’re probably not in the habit anymore. With some people it will feel like you’ve known them forever, and others may take a while. It’s all good!

   
   

So, as you navigate the exciting journey of being a modern woman, and all that it entails, remember the power of community. Invest in building community. Create your village, and you'll find that you’re enriching your life in countless profound ways.

Love and Light,

Maria DeVenuto Kasang R.M.T.