Philabundance’s Post

The holiday season is here, and with it comes parties, work events, community gatherings, and family get-togethers. These can be exciting for many people, but for some, it can be tough to enter a crowded room, talk to new people, or deal with family, travel, or gifts. Before you organize a party or get-together this holiday season, keep in mind these tips to help all of your friends and family feel seen: https://bit.ly/47FLNyH

If you’re craving more connection, then go and CREATE it! 11 months ago, I moved into a large apartment complex community and I hoped that I will meet my neighbors, there will be events I’ll attend… 

 Time went on, I got busy and slowly realized there weren’t any community events nor socials because… no one was doing it.

So I decided I’ll create the experience which I wanted - to meet my neighbors! I grew up in a little town in Lithuania, where I knew most of my neighbors by name. Surely this could be possible in the metropolis of LA, too, right?

Last week I held a Wine and Cheese Social for my neighbors and around 12 people showed up, with wine and cheese in tow! We hung out for more than 5 hours together, chatting the night away, having meaningful conversations.
 My neighbors shared with me that they were so happy to connect with others, their mood was uplifted, they felt energized by the conversations, peaceful and content after the event, looking forward to the next one!

 My favorite learnings from this experience so far: 

 1. Don’t wait for someone else to create community gatherings, go and make it! If you’re feeling starved for human connection, chances are, people around you are too! 
2. We are wired for connection. Our mental health depends on it. 
3. Our neighbors are a wealth of knowledge. You may learn so much from people who think the opposite to you. 
4. To create a friendly atmosphere, be an example of friendliness, acceptance, and easygoingness. Welcome everyone and make the event inclusive. 
5. If people expressed that they would like to come to the event, but didn’t make it in the end, keep track of all those people and keep inviting them :) 
6. Remember people’s names! Don’t give yourself the excuse of “I’m bad with names”. Stop being “bad”, simply practice, look people up on Facebook, and commit to remembering. 
7. Honor your fast followers: fans of the event. Thank them, ask for feedback, and make sure they know their support is appreciated!

 How well do you know your neighbors?

 #communitybuilding #neighborsgathering #community #neighbors #marinadelrey #losangeles

Good morning Success Family! Happy Wednesday & Happy #Juneteenth to you all. Are you still a little confused about what this holiday is all about? No worries. It’s different for everyone. Some celebrate the day with parties and parades, while for others, it’s about relaxing and remembrance. Whether your Juneteenth is focused on community gatherings or quiet reflection, at the end of the day, it’s all about #freedom ✊🏾 So how do you plan on spending the day? Let us know in the comments below

Feeling isolated? Here are some tips to help you reconnect: 1. Join a local group or club: Whether it's a book club, sports team, or hobby group, getting involved can help you meet new people. 2. Volunteer: Helping others can provide a sense of purpose and foster social connections. 3. Stay in touch: Make an effort to reach out to friends and family, even if it's just a quick call or message. You don't have to face isolation alone. Our community is here to support you and help you build meaningful connections.

As the Founder of Girls Who Walk MCR, I know first hand how hard it can be to push yourself out of your comfort zone and try new things. The two questions I get asked the most are: 1. 'Do people come alone?' 2. 'Do people already know each other?' And this highlights in itself that people are scared of attending social events, even when they are designed to meet new people, as they are scared of being by themselves and people already having friends within the group. When working with CLIQ we have been asking 'how can we stop people feeling like this?' Some ideas are... 💜 Sharing stories of people who have come solo and made new friends 💜 Making sure our volunteers are visible for people to chat to 💜 Asking in the CLIQ group chat before a walk or event if you are coming alone All these things help offer reassurance to someone who may feel scared about attending, and could be the difference between them turning up that day and making a new bestie! Have we missed anything? How would you mitigate this? Would love to hear your thoughts 🧠 #girlswhowalkmcr #cliq #findyourcliq #community #loneliness #socialnetworking

Combating loneliness in our senior years is about staying connected and active. 🤝💕 At Right at Home, we encourage embracing simple yet effective strategies: Join Community Events: Whether it's a book club, art class, or local gathering, these activities offer great ways to meet new people and nurture friendships. 🎨📚 Utilize Technology: Regular video calls with family and friends can significantly reduce feelings of isolation. Learn how to set up easy-to-use tech solutions. 💻❤️ Start a New Hobby: From gardening to painting, hobbies are not only fulfilling but also fantastic avenues for social interaction. 🌿🖌️ Daily Walks: A short daily walk in your neighborhood or park can be a wonderful opportunity to meet others and stay physically active. 🚶♂️🌳 Volunteer: Giving back provides a sense of purpose and a chance to connect with others. Let's work together to keep our seniors engaged, happy, and connected. For more tips and how we can assist, visit buff.ly/3IW7orj or call us at (732) 967-0900. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our seniors. #SeniorLoneliness #SocialWellness #RightAtHomeNJ

Combating loneliness in our senior years is about staying connected and active. 🤝💕 At Right at Home, we encourage embracing simple yet effective strategies: Join Community Events: Whether it's a book club, art class, or local gathering, these activities offer great ways to meet new people and nurture friendships. 🎨📚 Utilize Technology: Regular video calls with family and friends can significantly reduce feelings of isolation. Learn how to set up easy-to-use tech solutions. 💻❤️ Start a New Hobby: From gardening to painting, hobbies are not only fulfilling but also fantastic avenues for social interaction. 🌿🖌️ Daily Walks: A short daily walk in your neighborhood or park can be a wonderful opportunity to meet others and stay physically active. 🚶♂️🌳 Volunteer: Giving back provides a sense of purpose and a chance to connect with others. Let's work together to keep our seniors engaged, happy, and connected. For more tips and how we can assist, visit buff.ly/3IW7orj or call us at (732) 967-0900. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our seniors. #SeniorLoneliness #SocialWellness #RightAtHomeNJ

Spent the bulk of yesterday, uploading past years' recordings into a new #youtube channel. Started this video recording thing, since the pandemic started. Call it restlessness, call it my grieving process, just felt like I needed to do something to support all of us, myself included, going through the change of the #circuitbreaker. My first video was on the night just before circuit breaker started, while on my way home, from my nephew's birthday celebration. I did not know (and still don't know) how far it might reach, or will anyone actually watch them to be supported. All I know is, if it matters, the right persons will receive what they need to receive. All I need to do, is within my ability, to give what I have, what I can. Throughout these past few years, I received 2 direct feedback on the videos recorded. One from someone, who accidentally (almost like a butt press situation on the phone) clicked on a video, while he was contemplating (and almost executing) #suicide. He thanked me, and said the video helped him calm down, and pause, and allowed him to re-consider his actions. Subsequently, he also became quite a hit on socials, videoing himself working out through dancefit exercises 😊 Another one watched a series on psychological wellbeing, as I had a conversation with counsellor. She found it meaningful and gave her insights to what psychological wellbeing looks like in workplaces, schools and in homes & families. As I uploaded the videos yesterday, I tuned in to some of them, and a sense of nostalgia and amazement washed over me. There are about 80+ videos (might be more) recorded over 2-3 years! And so much content, that I have not had time/energy to go through again. And then interestingly, these uplifting emotions crashed, and I wonder, if it really made an impact in this world. Do so much, and, it still seems like nothing/not enough. The work is not appreciated, and does not land where it needs to land, so is it all to waste. I started to feel really lousy of myself, that I am not a good human being. I recognise that this is also coupled with recent happenings and feedback I received. I shared how I felt with one friend, and it released some tension. And when Aifa Ahmad was winding down for the night, and messaged me, about how she was watching some of the recordings we did together, she is encouraged and inspired, I could go to sleep a little bit better (also because I was feeling tired 😆). And as I ride through these mixed feelings that I am having about this journey of #contentcreation, I'd like to appreciate Imran Tahir for being the very first few to say "Just do it!" And then followed by SYUKRI Azman for saying yes to be my first "interviewee". There were/are many more who journeyed together, and surprisingly said yes to me, and gave me more ideas to work with, such as Atiqah Halim and imPAct Hong Lim Green and Bevlyn Khoo. Thank you for going on this adventure with me 🙏🏽🙏🏽

As much as holidays are meant to be joyful, from spending time with friends and family to gift giving, we understand that the holiday season can be busy and stressful. We wanted to provide a few tips on how to handle this years holiday stress: - Setting a Budget: Minimize gifting stress by giving yourself a budget you can realistically spend. Consider giving out homemade gifts as an alternative! - Plan Ahead: Rather than having events feel like obligations, set aside specific days for activities so you can also have time set aside for yourself. - Reaching Out: Seeking out community, religious or other social events can help you connect with others. And helping others can also help ourselves. #pilotcat #community #holidays

What steps are you planning to take next? Our businesses, careers and communities are always evolving. Spending time in North Wales over the Easter holidays has got me thinking. We’ve spent time here with our family, and with our relatives. We’ve eaten well. Possibly too well! We’ve also had time to catch up on how things are going on the farm, in the mountains of Snowdonia National Park, that has been in our family for years. Bala, like many other farming and tourist industries, was hit hard during Covid and has been hit hard by the cost of living crisis. Bala, and it’s four mile long lake, is one of the most beautiful places you can visit in the UK. It’s also a community in crisis. Like many others across the UK. As someone who has been coming here for over fifty years, and has been welcomed into their community during this time, I want this town and their community to thrive. I want it and them to survive and thrive, long after I’m gone. It won’t happen without everyone coming together. We can create magic when we work together, in our towns and in our communities. The magic happens when we start talking, and when we start making plans together. What would you like to see coming to life where you live, or where you love to visit on your holidays? Everything that lasts begins with a conversation. And with people coming together, to bring something to life for generations to come. ………….. If you’re interested in helping your local community to grow and thrive, please get in touch. Words have magic, and the right words can open doors that can help communities for years to come. Inspire@creative-insights.co.uk ………….. Image description: Ansal standing at the bottom of the steps down to Swallow Falls. He is wearing a grey hoodie and is wearing glasses.