Comments on: The Importance of a Sense of Community and Belonging in Polarizing Times

By: Joan Wheeler

Joan Wheeler — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 15:35:07 +0000

Hi Cathy, thanks for another well-researched and thoughtful post. I love the quotes, too.
I'm at a place where my body needs to hibernate, and yet it is still important to maintain relationships so that someone will be there when I emerge.
Love to you, Joan

By: Inara Segal

Inara Segal — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 12:40:25 +0000

As usual Cathy, you touched all the important points! As a child of the 50's myself, I shared the same kind of childhood you had in the 60's: freedom, space to explore, loving parents who were nurturing but not smothering, simple pleasures, shared adventures with my friends. Even though it was the cold war and we had duck and cover air raid drills in school, these things did not sully our innocence or dampen our joy and connections. I was a college student from 1966 to 1970, and so had a very different and abrupt introduction to adult life and conflict. I had friends on both sides, but we quickly became polarized. We felt self-righteous in our convictions and labeled the other as wrong or bad, even evil. My connections to my closest friends kept me centered and safe, but didn't blunt the violence we saw around our country. Final exams and graduations were cancelled at Boston University, and we were told we had 24 hours to vacate the dorms. Again, family and friend connections kept us all going. Our country and the world settled down. While the following decades were not turmoil-free, there didn't seem to be the extreme divisions we have seen in the past few years. Friends and family, neighbors, acquaintances in the community, our local leaders - they have all been supports and connections to safety, happiness and health during this time. Above the fray, and in the midst of the fray, we can still turn to loved ones, connect with people on many levels, and see that our basic needs and hopes and dreams are shared by everyone. There is always someone willing to listen. Thank you Cathy, for your kind, inspiring and loving posts. They help us connect to our better selves.

By: Barbara Delaney

Barbara Delaney — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 18:25:01 +0000

It is so wonderful to have connections. I loved reading about the life that we shared as kids. We were so very blessed to have grown up in a community that valued their children, allowed us the freedom to grow into ourselves and become responsible adults. The balls in our court now and it's our turn to pass along those values that nourished us when we were young. It comes back to being connected.
It is so worthwhile to be there for our youth. I challenge everyone to reach out to kids and help them to navigate their course. There are many opportunities to mentor, teach and take an active role in the life of someone who needs a positive role model.
I will be forever grateful for the adults in my life who gave their time to help me to be a better person. Thank you to my teachers, my scout leaders, my church youth directors, parents of others who treated me like family, and especially to my friends that I made along the way. My life in better for having known you.
Thanks Cathy for keeping us all connected.

By: Miriam Hendeles

Miriam Hendeles — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 16:43:11 +0000

I love your posts, Cathy, and this one is wonderful too! I’m also a child of the 1960s and although I grew up in Brooklyn and not New Jersey, I too feel like our childhood was calmer and simpler than these days. Your suggestions are so on target.

By: Paulette

Paulette — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:54:27 +0000

Always a pleasure to read your thoughts, thoughts that are positive and sincere.
My joy amidst the horrible year is the birth of a beautiful great granddaughter. I reach out to my phone or iPad whenever I catch a glimpse of some grifter spewing lies, or updates on the virus., I look at pictures of the great grand and somehow the world is a better place. Your writing evokes a better place
Be well.