As I consider how to approach the New Year, I've decided to double down on a couple of things. And one of those is prioritizing mindful community.

Like many other creatives and introverts during the pandemic, I immersed myself in a level of solitude and isolation that felt therapeutic back then. However, an undercurrent of isolation and disconnect lingered long after I left behind social distancing. That disconnect has left me feeling more anxious, heavy, and stressed more often.

I know I'm not the only one feeling this way either.

I could quote all of the statistics of how disconnected we are from one another as a culture, but you already know. Time and again, women who attend my events say the biggest benefit of our time together was this: The ability to explore, to be vulnerable, and to be authentically themselves with other women who were courageous enough to do the same. In other words, connection with a mindful creative community.

The science supports the benefits of human connection. We are stronger together. We live longer and better lives. We are less stressed. We are less anxious. We are more inspired and resilient, better equipped to handle life's blows.

I get it though--community can be scary and kind of a pain in the butt sometimes. I'm busy, and connection takes time and energy I often feel like I don't have. Plus, like most Americans, I take pride in my perceived self-sufficiency even as I struggle against the limiting message of, "You are on your own." I'm also familiar with the sting of betrayal by people, groups, and institutions I trusted. I know how it feels to be an outsider and of never being let 'in' to begin with.

Then there's the long-standing tradition of creators going it alone. One of my favorite books as a young writer was "Letters to a Young Poet," where Ranier Maria Rilke advises, "Embrace your solitude and love it. Endure the pain it causes, and try to sing out with it." Message received! Like much of the advice given to creatives in the past, it was created by men for other men from a place of scarcity and patriarchy--not for me.

By contrast, I've realized that ...

• When I invite others in I feel more moments of spontaneous joy.
• I am invigorated and inspired by the company of mindful, creative people.
• My kids are learning how to build their own healthy support network by watching me.
• My marriage is better when my partner isn't expected to meet all of my relational needs.

Building a mindful community doesn't happen by accident. It takes time and intention. I'm still trying to reset my lone-wolf dynamic and reshape my approach to the creative process. I'm learning to trust myself to set boundaries around healthy belonging. I've discovered tools that support my nervous system when resistance sets in. And I recognize that being part of a community doesn't mean giving up solitude completely--just creating a healthier balance.

In light of this, much of what I'll be offering in 2025 will be centered around building a Mindful Creative Community. More connection. More collaboration. More joy and support (for extroverts and introverts alike). I hope you'll join me!

Connect + Create Meetups

Join me for the adventure? I'm hosting free Connect + Create co-working and co-creating meetups. Sessions will take place daytime and evenings, mostly online with some in-person opportunities (according to interest).

What to expect: Click here to view the meetup calendar and get your Zoom links. When the meetups happen, you'll hop on Zoom and give a one-word check-in via Chat to tell the group how you're doing and also let us know what you're focusing on for that session. You can leave your camera and mic off or on. For an hour, we'll create or work independently--together. That's it! Easy, but oh so effective.

So how do you plan to create mindful community for yourself in 2025? Use the contact form below to let me know.