Community

Recently, I met the most extraordinary woman. Her name is Joanne, and she is building a powerful non-profit organization (stay tuned for next week’s posting). Joanne reminded me of the importance of community as support and as a source of strength. Her message read in part, 

We were talking in our studio today about empowerment. We all agreed that as survivors, we have become empowered through community. Our little intimate community and the larger external community of women who have supported and cheered us on have helped us recognize just how strong and resilient we truly are. Thank you, Monica, for being our community

Joanne

She is right; regardless of size, the outcome of a positive community is fulfilling. A genuine feeling of gratitude to be part of something greater than ourselves. Yes, larger communities (i.e., religious, ethnic, associations, neighborhoods) play important backdrops in our lives. Strength in numbers comes to mind; people have more influence than one person. Yet, consider the power of smaller communities, such as your tribe, the people that show up, support, love, and inspire. The ones clapping it out on the sidelines, for me, this is where I discover the magic of community. 

Where would I be without my community of loyal followers, encouraging me each week to keep going with ToGETherJOY? Or the community of moms that rally as we do our part in raising good humans. And of course, there is my tribe of soul sisters, life would be much harder without them on my side. 

It is not a secret that I have spent the last year cleaning out my ‘junk drawer,’ getting rid of things that do not serve me. This includes people, the takers, the ones that turn moments into a competition, the gossipers, the judgmental, what I have coined as the fuckery of fakery. You know what they say, ‘Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are.’ Truth bomb, I was becoming the thing I despised in others. I am so grateful for my meltdown. It allowed me to hit the refresh button and clean house, which required that I quit groups, people, and places; clearing the path has opened space for new experiences, lucky me.

Luna Wolf

And that is how I landed at Luna Wolf Retreat this past weekend. I knew I belonged when I set foot in Robin Hills Farm, greeted by a group of happy chicks. There were no egos, no shiny objects, just beautiful women creating space for self-care and reflection. Over a delicious cup of hot chocolate and vegan marshmallows (who knew!), l chatted with founder and organizer Marney Wolf and learned that she began organizing retreats to connect with real women. She recalls a feeling of disconnect in the community she called home, of not belonging, ‘I was struggling to find my people, I didn’t quite fit in, so I decided to change my approach.’ At the nudge of a friend who reminded her, hey, ‘if you build it, he (she) will come,’ And that is precisely what Marney did, she built Luna Wolf, a place dedicated to protecting and celebrating individuality, staked her flag on the ground, flung the doors wide open- with a giant welcome sign, you belong here! And just like that, the magic of community bloomed; She-Wolf (Marney) is building an eclectic community for women by women.

What type of people, you ask? After a day of exploring with the wolf pack, the answer is simply a breath of fresh air, pure authenticity wrapped up in the coziest blanket of love. Her pack (peeps) are happy, joyous, playful, colorful, healers, creators, kind, philanthropic, and imaginative. And Marney channels similar attributes to the planning of her retreats. Boutique-like, she designs events to be smaller in scale, intimate, deliberate, and meaningful. A place to make real connections, small retreats with a big heart. 

I see you, Luna Wolf. Keep sparkling and shining bright under your bold frames and too cool-for-words hair. I am so happy to have found and joined your wolf pack; you are definitely my kind of peeps.

And that’s not all; I am telling you, women are showing up in my world in significant ways this week. I am honored to be a 100 Women Who Care Northville (100 Women) member. Our quarterly meeting was held this past week; check out yet another example of the power of community.  

100 Women

At Genitti’s Hole-in-the-wall, a local dinner theater, women from all walks of life gathered with a unified task to combine the resources of our members, select a benefactor (a local charity), and make one large donation. Wow, cool, huh?

I support and appreciate 100 Women for a multitude of reasons. Sure, I adore (like really love) the founding members, aka The Bees, and yes, I enjoy learning about the various charities and discovering ways to help. But what really gives me the ‘feels’ is this: women joining together to reach back and help people in need. Now, to me, that is food for the soul. Women who DO care, shoulder to shoulder, making a significant impact.  

Too often, I meet people who say all the right things– “Oh, that is such a fantastic charity, that is so inspirational, that is so powerful,” yet that is where it ends. Instead of, how can I help? How can I be of service? I am learning that the world is filled with empty gestures and people who say things with no meaning or value to back up their words. But not 100 Women, no empty gestures in this theatre; women show up with bags filled with hope and optimism and take action knowing that individually we have the power to make a difference, but collectively (toGETher), we kick butt! 

My Pitch

To be considered for the 100 Women donation, one must be randomly selected and give a pitch. I was fortunate enough to be chosen and presented for Joanne’s charity. I took the stage filled with butterflies in the pit of my stomach. Even though I am not entirely comfortable with public speaking, my nerves had less to do with the audience and more with my sincere desire to do right by the women I represented. I took a big yoga breath whispered a prayer, please let me get this right, let my words resonate with the audience. And went for it….

Here’s the scoop: pitching a charity is more challenging than one thinks. The best way I can describe it is using an elevator pitch analogy. The pitch must be concise and persuasive, demonstrate a positive impact, and weave in the personal stories—the part that stops us. Oh, and by the way, do all this in 3 minutes—you can imagine it never feels like enough time to present the depth of an organization properly.   

Words have never mattered more than when you are given a limited time to speak. To validate and convince the audience that your charity is worthy of the funds instead of the ‘competing charities,’ ah, not a chance, all the charities are excellent; they will all put a tear in your eye and a lump in your throat. As members, we take the task of voting seriously; ultimately, it is our way of saying we may not fully grasp the depth of your suffering, nor can we make the scars disappear, but know this: we stand and walk next to you in your journey. 

The meetings always wrap up the same, a lot of hugs, words of encouragement for all the presenters, and a group photo. My heart beams; not only did the group choose my charity (over the moon), but more so, my heart was filled with pride to stand side by side with a community of women aspiring to be better and do better. These, too, are my people.  

ToGETherJOY

Of course, my favorite community is the one we are building at ToGETherJOY. A sisterhood that celebrates and emboldens women. A place to author up, reimagine possibilities, and discover our purpose. We soar by lifting each other, but first, F.L.Y. (first love yourself) 

Here’s hoping you know who your people are. 

Xo-Mic

PS. Stay tuned for next week’s post; Joanne’s story will inspire you.