The community around you is super important as a human primate. We're wired to want social groups & close connections.
Unfortunately, modern society has made us need to rely on one another less. It also prizes independence over interdependence.
I'm reading a book called Tribe by Sebastian Junger & thinking about community a lot. Junger's main argument is we're happier & more resilient when we have a community we rely on.
Recently, a big goal of mine has been deeper connections - with neighbors, friends, family, coworkers, etc. When you like your neighbors, you're happier in your community. When you have ties to your coworkers, work feels more like teamwork. With a few deep friendships, you feel like someone has your back in the world.
Increasingly, I've come to believe that independence, freedom, autonomy, and self-sufficiency aren't cure-all virtues. We need & want the feelings that come with relying on one another.
So, what relationships are you building? Who in your life are you most grateful for?
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(I realize this whole post is skewed by my experience in the USA. Many other cultures are far more community-driven & interdependent. Indeed, America prides itself on freedom & self-sufficiency, often at the expense of our happiness & national togetherness.)