11/25/2025
Last night I took my own advice. I went to a wine tasting/wreath making class hosted by even though I had no one to go with. 😱
I sat awkwardly at the bar after someone gave me their seat (THANK YOU). I was doubly thankful that “Sixteen Candles” was playing on the tv so I could have something to focus on. If teenagers have to endure four awkward years of high school, I can do this one night, right? 🤓
I’m practicing my breathing skills, reminding myself to lower my shoulders and so on. I hate it. But I’m doing it.
Then we were moved to the dining room for the main event and I was going to be outed as *gasp* being there solo.
(I am definitely outside my window of tolerance right now but I asked myself to SIT WITH THAT. Ugh, my own therapist would be so proud)
The woman next to me asked who I was there with and I said “ME!” In Elphaba fashion. She said, “well, you’re with us now” ☺️
And the rest of the night was lovely. We chatted and laughed about shared experiences and learned where our lives overlap in the community. This one used to take dance lessons with that one’s coworker; her son was in a theater production my daughter just worked on; we all have been chasing the perfect advent calendar and been duped by Temu.
At one point a woman who looked familiar waved at me and when I went up to her I learned that she had served my family for years at . We hugged and it felt so nice to be seen, and remembered. We didn’t know each other’s names but we remembered each other and THAT IS COMMUNITY.
I know a lot of us haven’t been feeling valued or seen lately by the world at large. A salve for that is COMMUNITY.
But we have to engage with it to reap the benefits.
We have to take care of each other in small and big ways. Host events, create third spaces if you have that privilege. Sign up for the events, stay curious and open, smile when you recognize someone - all while practicing your emotion regulation skills 😅
Do it scared, I’m doing it too ☺️
