This hit me hard—and it should hit you too.
I recently came across a documentary called Join or Die (highly recommend keeping it on your radar) about the power of civic and community engagement. It explores the research of Robert Putnam, showing that the strongest, most successful societies aren’t built on wealth or power—they’re built on connection. The more we engage with our communities, the stronger we all become. And honestly? That hit home.
I have felt this my entire life. I am a wild extrovert. My social capital is everything and, for me, community isn’t optional—it’s oxygen.
And yet, I see what’s happening now, and it scares me. Phones, politics, and the general pace of life have chipped away at real connection. We’re lonelier, more isolated, and losing the very thing that makes us feel human. If we let this continue, what happens next?
*Cue Terminator Theme Song*
I know a documentary on civic engagement may not be your thing, but something is. A hobby, a creative passion, a weird little niche interest—whatever it is, find your people. Don’t wait for an invitation. Set something up. A casual meetup, a standing coffee date, or a no-pressure dinner. It doesn’t have to be formal; it just has to be real. And if Join or Die comes to a theater near you? Go see it. Let’s make sure we don’t lose what truly matters.
With love (and a push to get out there in whatever way makes you comfortable),
Monique
