Finding + Building Community

I’m currently working out of my favorite local coffee shop. I don’t really drink coffee. I occasionally like to indulge in a small latte around 3pm at work, but other than that, it’s a no from me. 

So why am I at a coffee shop right now?

Well, it started about a year ago. I began a cycle of being lazy and antisocial. It felt ok at the time. I spend a lot of time and energy at work (this is true for a lot of people who work a 9-5 job). When I get home, I tend to close my curtains, watch tv or play some games. This spills into the weekend.

One day, something just clicked. I wanted to break from this cycle, because I knew it was unhealthy. 

I decided to find a local coffee shop where I would just sit for a least an hour or so. I mostly frequented social media pages and YouTube, like any other 27 year old. After a while, I started to pull out my sketchbook, work on my portfolio, learn new photography techniques, etc. I felt a lot more productive that I would have been at home. No real distractions besides the occasional puppy walking by. Productivity is always a good thing. However, there was another aspect of it that I never really thought of. 

Community.

“Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference, but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.” - Bell Hooks

This beautiful quote perfectly captures my thoughts on building community. By frequenting this coffee shop, I started to notice I was putting myself out there more, I made a few friends along the way and I found out I was sitting in the middle of one of the most creative communities in Atlanta. It helped me break out of my shell and try something different. But most importantly, all of this fueled me to love where I live.

I’m sitting here, at my local coffee shop, knowing that building community is a value I want to pursue in my life. What does community mean to you?

* Brother Moto, my favorite coffee shop, is closing its doors soon. Though I am sad that it is closing, I believe community ascends the physical space it occupies. I am excited to discover more communities that I can plug into.