SuperMind Saturday – Community.

Five thoughts, ideas, insights, or quotes to power up your mind to think differently and creatively about life and who we are. Put all previous thinking away and open up a brand new world of the Supermind. YOUR SuperMind.

This week – Community.

We live in global economy now. One big globally linked market. And as a global life we are forever travelling to meet others around the globe. Where we once lived a local existence, now that seems to hold most back. The advent of social media has shown them the world and they want to be part of it. There are plenty of winners in this but the one that seems to have lost is the community. Where it once thrived at a local level the global mindset means it is struggling today for its identity. And this means SMS has to take a look.

1. Community = common unity.

This definition isn’t official. But it’s mine. To define a community it is a localised area with shops, buildings, streets, services, and people who share this space. However, it’s far deeper than that. There is often a history that still exists and pulls the citizens together in a proud experience of living there plus all the related feelings and beliefs that come with it. But the whole social media era has formed a mindset of go everywhere away from home to see and be seen and show the world where you are. Our common unity is less visable now.

How do we get a common unity back in the areas we live in?

2. Has the community headed online?

In developing and designing this blog I came across a host of various graphic artists and brand creators. Previously I had to travel around locally (and perhaps even further) to find even one or two people like this. But the arrival of the internet has seen the like minded and even the like skilled banding together in hubs. sites, and groups to help promote and market their portfolios. From historical groups to online marketers anyone anywhere can find what they want in this effect online community.

Has the real community given way to online versions for good?

3. Changing world, changing community.

Traditionally the community had local roots and remained that way. Most citizens were born, brought up, and lived in that area or nearby. Therefore community closeness was high as people wanted to follow on from their families and friends in caring about their home and heritage. That has fast been eroded. As economic times have enforced mass migration and the need for new work forces, the community is less local knit and more imported. It’s taken some adjustment at the local level and is still adjusting.

Should the community just be needing time to refind itself for the modern age?

4. High street is the heart.

Where would the heart of the community be? Where do the citizens gather as one more? This was the high street. Our central shopping area where we would head for to buy our household needs. While there we would meet and talk to shop keepers, neighbours, friends, family, fellow shoppers and even work colleagues. We would learn each others stories or updates on local news, find out about events going on, and generally connect with all members of society. Not so now. The high street is dying. Shops are closing en masse so the community has lost its heart.

How do we get the community heart back or where can we go to find it these days?

5. Community is a spirit.

Community is not just a place. It’s an inner sense of belonging. A spirit and feeling that we hold that we are among a neighbourhood of those like us in so many ways. People who have chosen to live, work, socialise, and raise families in the same locality as we have. While the high street maybe the heart, it is within us that a community has a soul. Put together, we hold dear, protect, and seek to ensure the very survival of our own community. And so to finish today a timely reminder that always….

A community exists if it continues to live in the hearts and minds of those that live there.

Ok, that’s another SuperMind Saturday done. Thank you for being here for the SuperMind time. Keep thinking about these. We need more minds thinking about this issue and the others issue on SuperMind Saturdays. Why? Because it’s needed. Because the world requires new thoughts and ideas. Perhaps YOURS!!

See you next time for more super thinking.

Photo attributions – free to use under Pixabay Content License by TungArt7 and TyliJura.