Finding Community

What is community? To me it is a place of belonging. A community is a group of people with something in common. Writing is a form of community building. When we write, we are sharing a story, often one that is close to our heart. In sharing, we find others who relate to our story.

My first book was about acculturation. Anyone who has lived in more than one country is part of a unique community, one that is difficult for others to relate to. The first time I gave a presentation on my book, there were tears in the audience as listeners recalled their own experiences.

My last book was on breast cancer. I started my breast cancer marathon feeling isolated. I now am part of a vibrant community and feel that my book has given me a way to give back to that community.

In researching for both, I reached out and gathered the voices of others who had shared experiences similar to mine. The stories that were shared with me took away my aloneness. They gave me a sense of belonging and purpose.

I write for myself. Writing fills a place in me that needs to be nurtured. The fact that others find my writing helpful in their own lives, their own processing and search for community, warms my heart.