Community

What does community actually mean?

The dictionary gives us 3 distinct meanings:

1. a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common e.g.
   • a group of people living together and practicing common ownership: a community of nuns
   • a particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants: a rural community/local communities
   • a body of nations or states unified by common interests: [in names]: the European Community
   • the people of a district or country considered collectively, especially in the context of social values and responsibilities; society: preparing prisoners for life back in the community
   • [as modifier] denoting a worker or resource designed to serve the people of a particular area: community health services
2. the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common
3. a group of interdependent plants or animals growing or living together in natural conditions or occupying a specified habitat

When I think of community, I think of collaboration, partnership, helping and supporting one another. In reality it doesn’t always manifest itself as this. Far too often I witness and see people intent on causing others grief and I ask myself why? Is it jealousy because they perceive others to be more successful, popular, have more friends? Is it insecurity or lack of confidence because they don’t really see their own potential? Is it because they are just mean and nasty people? Could it be a combination of any of these? Bottom line is there is no need for anyone to seek to do or say anything wrong against another, unless there is a genuine reason for example someone breaking the law.

Yesterday was the Carnival Procession in Malmesbury and Devizes.  There are lots of photos online showing the floats, the crowds, the musicians, etc. It’s been good to see happiness on each one. Even if you weren’t there, you can imagine what it must have been like, the photos [whether professional or amateur] convey the excitement and atmosphere.

For the first time in six years I was a bystander in Malmesbury. I wasn’t helping as part of the committee, I wasn’t stewarding, I was able to take in the atmosphere like everyone else. The carnival was wonderful, full of color, people smiling, helping one another, positive communication, not a bit of negativity.

Today I’ve seen posts about the various after procession parties and the written feedback, which shows people enjoying one another’s company. I’m asking myself, why is it that at carnivals, festivals, fetes, fairs, etc people can be community at its best, yet at other times not? It seems odd that those working together one day, can seek to rip one another apart the next.

Maybe we should set out with the same thoughts and actions everyday that we do on those ‘community days‘? If we work together, not have negative thoughts or use negative words and actions, leave anything negative in the past behind us, draw a line and move forward.

Community exists and we can all make it better. Let’s set ourselves the challenge to make everyday a ‘carnival day‘, lets make everyday one when we reach out and do something nice for another. If we don’t get back from others what we put in or expect, lets just be happy with our own actions.