I want to share something that’s been on my mind after visiting a few local gyms recently. What started as a simple search for a place to get in some strength training turned into a bigger reflection on how much community shapes and inspires us.
There was an older gentleman lifting more weight than I could, and a woman in sequins heading to Zumba, ready to hit the dance floor. Watching everyone show up in their own unique way reminded me how powerful it is to be part of something bigger and how community can inspire us, push us, support us, and help us grow.
Whether it’s a gym, a writing group, or even a bunch of fans rallying for the same team, the connections we make help define how we see ourselves and what’s possible.
In this episode, let’s take a Wise Walk together and reflect on the communities that inspire us, the lessons they bring, and how showing up matters—not just for us, but for the people around us.
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- How is the support of community positively impacting you?
- What community are you consistently excited to engage with?
- How do they inspire you, and how do you inspire others?
- What about that community makes you say, “That was an amazing use of my time”?
- What are you gaining from being part of community?
- What groups or communities have helped you raise your vibration or lift yourself to a higher level?
- Which communities have inspired you or offered a safe path to explore a unique aspect of yourself?
- As you explore an interest, what has surprised you along the way?
- What have you learned that you might not have known if you hadn’t shown up?
- What awareness did you gain from those experiences?
- In the communities you engage with, where are you the student?
- How can you take the lessons you’ve learned and pay them forward to benefit others?
- How does learning and growing through these experiences become a part of you?
- How can you use what you’ve learned to help someone else in the future?
- When you show up in your community, can you embrace the mindset of being both a student and a teacher?
- How do you pay it forward in ways that feel authentic and aligned with you?
Thank you, for being part of this community, for showing up as your true self, and for bringing your curiosity and energy to push us all to see what’s possible.
I’d love to hear what resonated with you from today’s episode—what communities are inspiring you right now, and what you’ve learned by showing up for them.
I look forward to our Wise Walk together, next Thursday, so be sure to tune in. Until then, don’t forget to prioritize fun as you read the signs, direct your path, and get your stride on!
In this episode:
[04:40] I’m seeing people of all walks of life doing what lights them up and supports their interest and wellbeing.
[05:35] The other thing that community does is it brings us closer together in ways outside of our initial interest.
[06:13] The kickboxing class was also going for it. I remember how those classes helped me in that phase of my life.
[07:04] We gain a sense of belonging and feel seen for showing up.
[08:14] New York JETS fans are diehard because of a sense of belonging and rooting for the underdog.
[09:20] Writing groups are also a great source of sharing and caring. Joining communities helps us tap into different aspects of ourselves.
[12:12] I love it when we slow down, check our reality, and take time to reflect on these questions.
[13:26] Being a substitute yoga teacher is also a gift of community where I can show up and be present.
[15:54] Community empowers you and makes you more fearless when you know you have support.
[16:32] We are not alone, and we belong when we join a group and put ourselves out there.
Memorable Quotes:
- “Community isn’t always about winning or accomplishments. It can also be about just showing up and having that sense of belonging, that sense of understanding.” – Mary Tess
- “Every time you’re learning, growing, and expanding your knowledge and experiences, that becomes a part of you that you might be able to share to help someone else in the future.” – Mary Tess
- “The connections we make help define how we see ourselves and what we believe is possible” – Mary Tess
Links and Resources: