Piloting Your Life Crew Chat: Community
By: Terri Mead
Tags: Menopause, Piloting Your Life, Midlife Women, Crew Chat, Women Supporting Women

I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about friendship and community. Back in October 2019, the Crew Chat topic was Friendship so this month I offer the topic of community.

One of my core values is belonging. One could argue that we as humans all need a sense of belonging to varying degrees. Unless you are living on your own, in the woods or the dessert, without access to any other people (and without access to any technology), you belong to multiple communities.

Some communities we choose and some choose us out of necessity and proximity. I think it’s important to take a step back and look at our communities and make sure we are aligned in terms of contributions, expectations, and general participation.

So gather your besties (or soon to be), open your hearts and minds, pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage, preferably in a beautiful glass, and open up about your communities.

Here are some ideas of what to talk about during a #CrewChat:

— How do I define community?

— Who is a part of my community? Do I have more than one?

—What do I expect from these communities?

— Am I getting what I want out of my communities? Are there gaps? Are my expectations realistic?

— How am I contributing to these communities? Are my contributions aligned with my own values and expectations? Are my contributions aligned with what the communities need?

— Do I need to find or build new communities?

— Do I need to let go of any of my communities?

— How do my communities make me a better / more content / better connected / more fulfilled / better supported person?

The conversation can go however you wish. There really are no rules other than those that you establish with your friends. Do what works for you and your gal pals. Be open, supportive, and loving with yourself and your friends.

What’s a Crew Chat? Get some details here in a blog post or here on the Piloting Your Life website. Bottom line: a crew chat is time with your friends to talk about your life, deepen friendships, and make you feel loved and supported.

Have other ideas? Share with me in the Comments below or send me an email at pilotingyourlife@gmail.com and I’ll add to this post.

With love and gratitude,

Terri

P.S. Looking for more Crew Chat ideas? Check out Pinterest. I am adding at least one per month. TM

About the Author

Terri Hanson Mead is an entrepreneur, angel investor, startup advisor, expert witness, podcaster, YouTuber, writer, mother, wife, and commercially-rated helicopter pilot based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is passionate about encouraging ALL women to live their best lives, especially those over the age of forty.

More from Terri and Piloting Your Life

To read an excerpt from Piloting Your Life, here’s a link to the first chapter, Journey.

To get your own copy of the book, or purchase for a friend (or two), order on Amazon (ebook, paperback, audiobook narrated by Terri). For other purchasing options, go to the Piloting Your Life website.

YouTube: Terri Hanson Mead

Check out my YouTube channel where I explore the angst of women in today’s world through the lens of my own lived experience.

Watch me read from Piloting Your Life, the section called On Botox, one of the Flight Diversion in the book.