How One Small Lunch Sparked Years of Connection
Community is a powerful thing. Our desire to belong and to connect with others starts at an early age and creates much drama in our formative years. Does she like me? Will I get picked for the team? How do I fit in? What if no one comes to my party?
Belonging to a community of support is instinctual, and it brings both joy and heartache.
As we enter the workforce and build our careers, our need for community broadens from simply seeking acceptance to requiring support and access to opportunities for our livelihoods. Finding and connecting with the right group of people is tough when we are growing up, and it’s still tough when we are adults. But does it have to be?
I’m a firm believer that the best opportunities don’t come from situations; they come from people. People who advocate for you, sponsor you, and share their access because they believe in you. This is why I also believe that if we stop competing and start aggressively collaborating, we create more than enough opportunities for everyone.
Some might call my views on this naive, but I’ve seen its power firsthand. It’s a beautiful, impactful, and powerful thing to experience.
My friend Amanda decided to do just that many years ago, as a timid and lonely college student, by taking a step of faith and extending a lunch invitation to a stranger. What started as a simple moment of courage grew into a legacy of community, with a recurring Friday pizza date 🍕 that eventually expanded into a community-wide invitation to connect
You can learn all about her experience of building connections in my podcast conversation with her. Amanda shares wisdom, honesty, and uplifting stories about how meaningful relationships often begin with small gestures of openness.
Don’t miss out on my podcasts with Amanda Ray Newman
So what about you?
➡️ How do you connect with others? ✨
➡️ What could you do today to create a deeper connection?
➡️ What opportunities are you seeking?
➡️ What opportunities could you open up for others?
I tend to connect with people over coffee. ☕️ I love to find funky, fun coffee shops and share the experience with new connections. The casual environment and overly complicated drinks break the ice and help me relax.
What about you? Feel free to share your thoughts. I always love hearing how people create connections in their own unique way.
P.S. Don’t miss Amanda’s simple but powerful method for building community. It all began with a slice of pizza and a single invitation. And if you’ve been looking for a space to connect, grow, and be encouraged, consider this your invitation to join us. 💛