Recently a friend asked me if I thought community was dead. Candidly, for many years I made the argument that community was dead. It seemed that everyone in the my neighborhood cared only for themselves. I no longer think this way.
The rise of online communities shows that women are yearning for connection in an increasingly busy and technology centered world. I underscored this in my president’s address to my college sisterhood at our 85th anniversary celebration a few years ago.
Let me say first that I was never a joiner. As a kid, I liked my solitude, my alone time and my privacy. I still do, but when my college roommate became interested in sorority life, she convinced me to join her in attending the informal “get to know us” events.
I had no intention of joining a sorority. It was the furthest thing from my mind. Still, Rhonda was my best friend, so I went. Little did I know how my life would change. I discovered that I was already friendly with many members of the same sorority!
In the end, Rhonda and I both chose to join a sorority. The kicker was we chose different ones! This did not impede on our friendship at all. If anything, it made it stronger. Sisterhood can make you stronger too!
Here are some examples of how Sisterhood appears in my life to help you create your own sisterhood community.
- Ladies’ Night!I have a group of girlfriends that I’ve gotten together with regularly for the last 25 years. We don’t meet as often now as we are empty-nesters and living it up traveling, but 3-4 times a year you will find us together at shows, dinner or just hanging out in someone’s back yard.
- Find a mentor.Be a mentor. Mentoring is a great way to build relationships with other women. Mentoring can take many forms. You could build a network of business sisters and help each other break the glass ceiling.
- Visit your local public library.The library is a wonderful resource. It has programs for all ages and interests. You can build a sisterhood with women through a reading club, music programs, discounted trips or museum visits.
- Your spiritual home may be a place to develop a sisterhood.I have sisterhood with the women in my church choir. We are not all of the same faithtradition but we share the joy of singing and spirituality. All of the deacons are women too.
- If you have access to a college or sorority alumnae organization get involved. I’m sure your Sisters and other classmates would love to hear from you.
Creating a Sisterhood Support System™ looks different for each of us. Don’t discount women who are older, younger, or seemingly different from yourself. As past president of my sorority’s alumnae organization I can tell you, these women may be the greatest gift.
I am blessed to have so many sisters. I am truly thankful for my Business Sisters, Book Reading Sisters, Dining Out Allergy Aware Sisters, Music Sisters, Sorority Sisters, Reiki Sisters, Tarot Sisters, and my College Roommate Sister, Rhonda.
