Building Community
Interested in building a community you want to be a part of?
I have always had anxiety, and one of my irrational thoughts is that I will slip and fall getting into or out of the shower, hit my head, and die.
Alone, naked, in my bathtub.
Sorry for the visual.
Even though it is very “people-y” outside, we do all have a secret desire for some form of social life. When we have social anxiety, we feel like we can’t engage with people because we are too awkward, or it makes our stomach hurt, or our face gets too red, or we stumble over our words, or whatever other negative thought your brain feeds you.
That’s normal.
Jamie VanderLinden
I have an adorable, spunky 90+ year old neighbor who finds her community by feeding birds. But as she clarified to me, “Not the annoying birds.”
She only feeds the crows, black birds, and pigeons...
I discovered this last Fall when I returned home from work to her standing in the middle of the road with her walking cane in one hand and a gallon milk jug full of water in the other, pouring it into a pot hole. It was a gusty day, and I was worried she was about to blow down the block, so I ran out to explore what the heck she was up to and escort her back home.
She described her hobby of watching the crows, black birds, and pigeons during the day and how she feeds and waters them so that they stay in our neighborhood.
Which explains a lot.
She told me stories about throwing chunks of hot dogs into her yard, and watching them hoard and hide them. Then, watching the stray cat steal them.
The same stray that she invites to sleep in her house every night in the winter...
She has built community.
Much to my other neighbors’ chagrin.
Community matters.
Healing happens in community. The hard part is finding your people. Even introverts like me yearn for community.
That was part of writing a blog. I talk to people all day long who want to feel like they belong, that they matter, and that they are normal.
My Absence:
I took a blogging hiatus, and in my perimenopausal, emotional state, deleted everything I wrote permanently. Oops!
A dear life coach/friend of mine was able to help me find a new direction that is actually the same direction, but with more clarity.
Jamie VanderLinden
First I changed everything, including the name of the website, about 5 times. Then I decided on “Life is Inconvenient.” Because it is.
Also, I articulated my goal to touch the lives of people who are over-whelmed worriers (like me), who sit up in the middle of the night Googling random questions like, “What to do if you screw up your kids?” or “Is 42 too late to start saving for retirement?” or "Could I have Lupus? Or Cancer? Or is it just Anxiety?"
Not that I've ever done any of those searches.
All the worries I’ve experienced (and continue to experience because I may be a therapist, but I’m also a person) built into a unique community with mini courses, a message board, and a monthly, live Q&A about managing anxiety during inconvenient, real life situations.
Interested?
If that sounds like it's for you, then check it out at The Late Night Googlers. Then use the Code: JULYINCONVENIENT to get 30 days free until July 25th.
If that sounds lame, but you like me, I’m 100% unoffended!
Please stay subscribed to this blog where I’ll keep sending out random inconveniences wrapped in behavioral health coping skills for free because it’s entertaining for me.
Much like my neighbor is entertained by crows.
If you decide to check out the The Late Night Googlers , then be sure to use the discount code and then cancel within 30 days or you’ll be charged $9/month.
I hate when I accidentally get charged for things I meant to cancel.
If you know another person who could be interested, please feel free to share the discount code and website.
Also, I’m still learning so please give me feedback!
I want to be a genuine, compassionate voice for everyday, late night worriers because I know from experience that life is incredibly inconvenient, but character building.
Use Code: JULYINCONVENIENT for 30 days FREE at The Late Night Googlers