Community is our biggest common treasure

Today's world finds itself in a situation of precariousness and uncertainty, which is increasingly clear to everyone's eyes; we are thus faced with global challenges on levels never recorded before, which can be traced back to four interconnected sectors: ecological, social, economic, and worldview or spiritual.

Alternatives to war, unsustainability, and social and economic injustice are becoming imperative for survival. These alternatives must combine our making peace with the planet and our making peace between people of different cultures. One is not possible without the other. [1]

No doubt today's world situation, whatever the perception that each may have developed, results in a general sense of disorientation, uncertainty and worry. Fear is always connected with loneliness: those who feel alone believe they cannot count on anyone's support. On the other hand, those who feel part of a large, healthy and operational organism know that their needs will be fully satisfied at all times just as the right foot knows that, at the exact moment in which it rises from the ground to take another step, there will be the left one firmly anchored to the ground to ensure the balance of the whole body. When a creature feels truly and profoundly part of a larger body, it immediately stops being afraid and knows that its existence, like all the others, is moved by a supreme intelligence whose only purpose is the realization of communal well-being. [2]

"When we lose self-love, only the common remains" - Tommaso Campanella

What I'm talking about is Community. This word comes from the Latin communitas, derived from communis, "which is common to many or to all, shared". It indicates, in the abstract sense, the common being, the commonality and, in particular, a set of people united by relationships, bonds and a determined purpose, which are a whole. [3] This concept is the representation of the natural organization of living beings seen within species or belonging to a wider ecosystem, thus including different forms of life and the environmental factors in which they are found.

Communities from around the world share the vision of living more sustainably - living in a way that heals the growing divide between the Earth, the self, others and nature.

Building community is the process by which a group becomes aware of its own existence as a living collective unity. It unfolds in different stages of group development. First of all, the forming process (pseudocommunity), where there are difficulties caused by the lack of experience but they are easily overcome thanks to a general feeling of excitement and a strong wish to get along. Then, storming is when the initial excitement begins to fade, differences appear and conflict arises; this is truly necessary for the development process of a group, being a great opportunity to learn about mutual respect and acknowledgement, about democracy and interdependence. Norming follows: the group decides to learn to move creatively through conflicts, to make coherent decisions everyone can support, to work cooperatively; members are more aware of having a collective identity. Later, maturity arises: there is cohesion, interconnectedness, harmony; productivity is high and the group works well in achieving its goals, being the leadership distributed among all members. Lastly, but not necessarily, adjourning is the phase when groups disband after completing their tasks and producing what they set out to produce, through the individual disengaging from each other. [4]

What community practice brings with it is the growth of the sense of belonging to a group. Men are social creatures, and we need to know that we are useful to our tribe, family and community. Within a tribe, each plays an important role and feels that he "means something" to the other members, manifesting himself in the free common commitment for the good of all. Regardless of its structure or goals, your community gives you joy and encourages you to participate in its maintenance. When you are part of a community of people who share your way of thinking, you have the tremendous possibility of harvesting enormous benefits. Just ask yourself: "How can I contribute?" rather than: "What can I get out of it?" Imagine a need and try to satisfy it.. it will bring shared joy!! [5]

Anthropologist Margaret Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food.

"A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said. We are at our best when we serve others. Be civilized." [6]

Interacting with the human and natural ecosystem in Nea Guinea during my ESC "Sustainable Synergies" brought both my inner landscape and that one of the project itself to work harmoniously together, resulting in an expansion of my personal awareness as the symbol of the most beautiful cooperation; fundamentally, this experience leads me to keep walking on places in the world I belong to, knowing I am not alone!

[1] Vandana Shiva, "Earth Democracy: justice, sustainability and peace"

[2] Devana, "Eko-nomia"

[3] https://www.etimo.it/?term=comunita

[4] Gaia Education - Design for sustainability course

[5] Colette Baron Reid, "The Oracle Responds: Cards of Divination"

[6] Ira Byock, "The best care possible"