As well as inspiring me to cherish the simplicity in my day-to-day life, the article by Dan Buettner also confirmed my belief in the power of communities. One sentence just stood up and shouted at me:
“…it’s difficult to change individual behaviors when community behaviors stay the same.”
It really pays to have a community around you who is like you, and will support you as your take steps towards the life you want to be living. It is easier to learn a language when you are immersed in that country, culture and spoken word. It is easier to be a vegetarian when your family and friends are all vegetarians. If you can, find that community that will support and enhance your world.
As well as a believer in support and community, I am also a firm believer that you need people to challenge you too. Life would be boring if everyone thought and acted like you do. So make sure to also engage and socialise with people who disagree with your way of life, who challenge your perspective. But also know that if you want to achieve something or change something, it will be easier when those around you are doing the same as you and helping you achieve your goal.