Building Belonging, Together
(Edited with assistance from ChatGPT)
For years, Andi and I have invited participants in our workshops to reflect on their why with a simple question:
Why do you do what you do?
Why do we ask this? Because connecting with your why helps cultivate a sense of purpose—something that becomes especially important during times of stress or uncertainty.
As Michael Jr. says so perfectly, “When you know your why, your what becomes more impactful because you’re walking towards or in your purpose.”
For Michael Jr., his what is comedy. His why is to inspire people to walk in purpose.
For me, my what is facilitating resilience-building trainings. But even though I’ve reflected on the why question for years, it wasn’t until recently that I was able to distill my own why into a single word: belonging.
A few months ago, during a breakout session at a Resilience Learning Community pre-launch check-in, we were asked to explore our why. That conversation helped crystalize something I had long felt but hadn’t quite named.
For many of us, our why stems from something we either had and want to share—or something we lacked and want to offer others. For me, it’s both. Sometimes two seemingly opposing things can be true at the same time.
Growing up gay in a fairly conservative town—something I wasn’t even fully conscious of until I was a young adult—I often felt different. Like I didn’t belong. But at the same time, there were spaces where I experienced a deep sense of belonging. One of the biggest was on the sports field. From childhood through college, I was part of teams that gave me a strong sense of community and camaraderie. I belonged there. Sometimes two opposing things can be true at the same time.
That feeling of belonging carried me through some of my darkest, most isolating moments. And maybe that’s why, even now at 50, I still play indoor soccer on Wednesday nights.
When Andi and I created the Resilience Learning Community, we did so with the intention of building a space where resilience champions could learn, teach, and connect. A core goal of this community is to foster that same sense of belonging—because belonging is an antidote to isolation, despair, and hopelessness.
When we feel like we belong, we feel hope. We create together. We take action together. We support one another.
Join Us—You Belong Here
One of the central features of the Resilience Learning Community is our Monthly Community Check-Ins, which are free for all members. Held on the second Tuesday of each month at 12:00 PM PT, these sessions offer space to ask questions, offer support, and learn from each other. They’re a chance to celebrate wins, navigate challenges, and stay connected on your resilience journey.
At our August meeting, members from across the country shared personal wins—family milestones, project momentum, and moments of gratitude—as well as challenges, including new roles, grief, uncertainty, and emotional fatigue. Throughout the conversation, themes of trust, grief, joy, and the power of connection emerged. The group expressed a shared intention to nurture one another, exchange skills, and prioritize wellness.
Come experience the power of community.
Come experience belonging.
Join us at our next Community Check-In on Tuesday, September 9th.
We’d love to see you there.