I have been spending a lot of time lately reflecting on the last two years - mulling over the trials and tribulations; pondering the learnings and growth. I have been observing how some people are racing back into the community with open arms and full of excitement. I have noticed how others are cautious, nervous, and tentative in rejoining the newly opened world. Long periods of uncertainty have impacted us all differently; we are each emerging from the cocoon of the pandemic in our own unique ways.

For some of us, there is a common element we seem to share - a rediscovered joy of connection. We are reconnecting with bits and pieces of the lives we knew - our hobbies, our work, our routines. We are connecting old habits with new habits, linking up old stories with new stories. We are reconnecting with people. And not just any people, our people. Our networks. The communities where we feel connected. The tribes of our hearts. The places we belong.

But not everyone’s experience has been the same.

If you pause to look around, you may notice that some of us are emerging from the last years lonely, isolated, and uncertain of where we belong. Perhaps this challenging time has been full of disconnection; perhaps we have started over, started again, or started something new. Opportunities to find a community of belonging have not been readily available to everyone; maybe we no longer have that community we belonged to in the past.

I’m certain that it’s no surprise that belonging and connection are not only essential to happiness but imperative for wellness. In belonging, we develop deep bonds where we are seen and valued; we contribute to an exchange of positive energy and trust; we generate connections that provide us with purpose and meaning. Not only are they protective factors against numerous physical and mental health conditions, we simply cannot live our best lives without feeling we are connected and belong!

How, then, can we all get involved in fostering belonging and connection to elevate wellness, especially armed with the knowledge that not everyone is having the same experience right now?

• First and foremost, we can lead with compassion. We all share the deep-seated, biological need to connect with others. In leading our conversations with others with compassion, we show genuine concern for someone else to foster connection, creating byproducts of kind and trusting communities.

• Second, we can make time and space to include others. We can listen more, avoid assumptions, and create communities where curiosity and sharing are promoted. In doing so, we will create communities where everyone feels accepted and valued.

• Last, we can prioritize each other. Connection and belonging can only be created by making time for others. By prioritizing others, we increase protective factors in our relationships, such as lowering anxiety and depression, improving our sense of self-worth and empathy for others, and boosting our immune systems. In placing connection and belonging as a priority, we build healthier communities as a whole.

Each of us is in our own place right now as we seek to understand both the past and how to proceed in the present. While there are shared experiences we may have from the past years, there are many that we don’t. However, one thing that we all do share is the fundamental need to connect and belong. And since creating belonging and connection is a two-sided street - we can all have an impact regardless of where we start.

How will you foster connection and belonging with someone today?