Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Community

This is a painting that is part of my CREATRIX line of products. It is titled "A Call to Gather". I chose this image because I have been touched by the way that I see folks coming together in these challenging times. I have observed it "from afar" and in the past couple of weeks have been experiencing it personally in my own life.

Growing up my family seemed to always be on the outside. The way they saw it, folks in their community didn't accept them because they were not born and raised there, which is common in small towns and especially I think in souther small towns. They didn't socialize much and part of that was because my mom was very introverted. In early years I did see her sometimes join in with community undertakings but she became increasingly depressed and withdrawn. I could go deeper here but for the sake of some of my family member's privacy I'll leave it at that.

Perhaps because of that and due to the fact that I am mostly a hermit I have not been that involved with community either unless you look at my involvement with the New Age Community which is indeed great, but it is a large community. I have moved so much in my life that community has changed frequently and lately I travel so much that it is difficult to keep up with local happenings.

All that being said, I do love community for as much as I can be involved. And I so appreciate all of you that make up mine.

In community, Melissa

3 comments:

  1. I myself have distinct hermit-like qualities. Several months ago, when the apples were ripe, my neighbor who is awesome, had a cider pressing party at her house. I live in a town (more like a village!) which literally has about 20 people. . . Most of them were there, and I remember this feeling that was just golden. . . I totally thought to myself as I looked around that I was so lucky to live in this great community.

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  2. Love, love, LOVE this piece!
    I too felt like an outsider growing up in a small rural town that my family moved to when I was 8 - we had the same feelings of not being accepted because we were not "from" there, so I know what you mean. I love the sense of community that I've found online in various places (like blogging.)
    PS. I have your 'Goddess on the Go' card deck on my desk, and a few individual cards on my altar. I love them so much!

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  3. I moved to Shandaken when I was 13 from Long Island. TALK ABOUT BEING AN OUTSIDER! I had to beat up a few kids to establish myself back in the old days.

    My mother too was depressed and withdrawn. My father hated crowds. I find that I can often go into hermit world, and I HATE crowds!

    Now how does one explain that?

    Fortunately, I have learned how to balance it, and enjoy both solitude and friends.

    Oh, and when the community came out to help raise money when Megan had cancer, that totally blew my mind.

    xp

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