What it takes to build a community
& happy (almost) earth day!
Hello friends!
Welcome back to Endless Growth!
People have been asking me how the energy and morale in DC are right now. Most are surprised when I tell them that while there’s a twinge of sadness, the city is filled with care, support, energy, and a deep sense of community in this present moment.
DC is known for being a city of do-gooders – people move here to make a difference and even if how we make a difference has changed, the way we continue to show up for our communities has not.
Another question being asked often of me lately is whether or not I’ll leave DC. I’m always surprised to get this question because I never considered leaving to be an option.
Of course, it’s normal to move. People move all the time – for jobs, for careers, for fresh starts. But living somewhere and making somewhere your home are two different things.
Washington, DC isn’t just the place I moved for school or work, it is truly my home.
I’ve spent nearly a decade here, and in those nearly 10 years I have built an incredible community.
Community isn’t something that just happens to you, it’s something you build. And when you leave, you leave your community too. Community cannot just be replicated elsewhere. You have to restart, and that process of building community is time-consuming and can be incredibly difficult.
When you’ve built something special the idea of leaving it is painful.
Community doesn’t happen overnight. It’s something that takes years of investment, of dedication, of time, of consistently showing up.
Our communities give us so much. Our strength, our power, our motivation, our meaning, and the support we need during difficult times. There’s no greater power than feeling like you belong somewhere.
In our own quest for growth, often fueled by ambition and individualism, we lose community. We all want community of course, but too many of us are not willing to put in the real work it takes to build one.
The truth is that building community is uncomfortable and inconvenient. It requires a level of selflessness and thinking about others that many people do not have a habit of doing. It is about freely being of service to others, of being an ambassador, and seeing yourself as a piece of something bigger.
And the best part of community is that you get to choose it. You get to help create and build it and maintain it.
While DC is a transient city, it’s a place where people move and immediately find ways to get involved. Building community requires a growth mindset and orientation towards service.
This city is extremely community-oriented and people here show up for each other. That’s harder and harder to find these days and is not something I’m willing to let go of so easily.
If you’re feeling isolated, hopeless, or in need of good spirits, now more than ever is the time to reinvest in your community. Hopefully today’s content helps you get started.
✨ Thought-provoking
How Healthy Is Your ‘Social Biome’?
This quiz from the NYT assesses how healthy your social life is.
My thoughts: This quiz is not about being introverted or extroverted. It’s about the ways you meaningfully relate to others. Assessing your baseline can help you discover areas you need to water more.
Is there an area of your social biome you’re hoping to improve?
I Want Community – But Am I Prepared To Put The Work In?
This article from the Guardian on what community actually means. If you haven’t built yours yet, it’s okay. Being a regular and knowing your neighbors takes time.
My thoughts: Building a community requires putting yourself out there in a way that is often uncomfortable and inconvenient, but it’s always worth it.
When’s the last time you put yourself out there?
What Does ‘Community’ Mean?
This article from the Atlantic for a kind reminder that a community and a body of people are not the same thing. Community requires action and it requires giving without the expectation of return.
My thoughts: Individualism, for all its positives, often ignores the power of the collective, which is well-studied as an important source of happiness, meaning, and general well-being.
Why I Changed My Mind About Volunteering
This article from Vox on how you can change your mindset to become more service-oriented.
My thoughts: Millennials and Gen Z volunteer at lower rates than previous generations. There are many theories as to why but this is simply my call to you to give back (your time or your money) in whatever way resonates with you.
Where are your favorite places to volunteer? I’ve loved working with Washington English Center, AmeriCorps, Martha’s Table, and District Clean-Ups.
What I’m up to — A spotlight on my communities (new and old)!
Earth Day Clean Up
Had an amazing time with District Clean-Ups for the annual Earth Day clean-up. Clean ups are one of the easiest ways to give back to your community. Get a grabber and some friends and pick up some trash, easy as that!
My thoughts: My favorite thing about these cleanups is the people who stop us to say “thank you.” Little actions go a long way!
Easterseals Respite
Had the best time making slime with the kiddos at the last Easterseals Respite program.
My thoughts: Volunteering with kids is so fun! Not to mention a helpful break for parents.
Once An Eagle…
Have always been so thankful for my community at American University. Connecting and re-connecting with professors, old classmates, and current students always offers opportunities to pay it forward.
My thoughts: If you’re an eagle, please get involved in the alumni association! You can find events here.
Everyday I’m Shuffling…
I went to my first DMV Shuffle Circle! I was totally scared considering I taught myself to shuffle – thank you YouTube University – but it felt amazing to conquer a new skill and put myself REALLY out there dancing in the Georgetown labyrinth with many many people watching while also meeting and connecting with fellow shufflers. Shuffling so publicly with this group increased my confidence tenfold and I’m ready for festival season!
My thoughts: You can find community doing ANYTHING, no matter how niche, and if it doesn’t exist, build it! I made my first connections in DC through MeetUp which continues to be a great platform for building community.
What has my attention
LaLisa
Have been on a Lisa splurge lately after her acting debut on the White Lotus and really loved her Coachella performance.
My thoughts: Lisa and Tyla are the embodiment of star power to me so I loved this Musicians on Musicians conversation between them for Rolling Stone.
Skrillex
Have enjoyed listening to the new Skrillex album – I’m more into house music lately but it was a fun return to my roots as a bass head.
My thoughts: I really enjoyed the album though it gave more mixtape SoundCloud vibes (in a way that would make for a fun live set!). It didn’t quite stand up to Quest for Fire which was one of my most listened to albums from its release in 2023 and topped my 2024 Wrapped.
What’s your favorite Lisa song? Any albums or artists I should give a listen to?
Lifestyle
My Depop Shop is Open!
Spent some time having fun pretending to be a model and taking shots to open my Depop shop. Taking these photos made me really want to hold onto these pieces but I had to force myself to declutter as my style evolves.
I love Depop because it’s a fun way to make extra money and it’s a guaranteed way to extend the life of my clothes.
Donating can be a great option but many donation sites like Goodwill ship excess inventory overseas, where it is eventually trashed (Remember: Goodwill does not wash your donated items, it must be ready to sell!). Please only donate items to Goodwill that are in good enough condition to sell, meaning like-new, clean condition.
For extra-loved clothes that don’t meet the standard for resale, ThredUp’s Clean-Out Kit can be a good option for both resale and reuse. You can read more about their commitment to keeping clothes out of landfills and extending their life here.
My thoughts: It’s really important to me that my clothes see a second life and I’ve been slowly prioritizing buying secondhand first.
Is there anything I should keep? Do you have any tips for clothing recycling?
Cinnamon Buns
I was recently craving Cinnabon like no other but instead of doing the easy thing and making a stop at Union Station to get one, I made a batch! You can find the recipe I used here.
My thoughts: A couple adjustments – consider upping the filling to a ½ cup brown sugar and a half stick of butter for a richer roll. I switch out cream cheese icing for a lighter glaze (and because I think the stabilizers in store-bought cream cheese give frosting an awful chewy texture – if you can grab cream cheese from a local bagel shop it’s much better!).
In my unemployed state I’ve been baking a lot more again. Any recommendations for what I should make next? I have a few more packs of yeast so would love any recommendations for bread!
That’s all for now, friends! Remember, what you water grows — see you next time! 💗
—Nar