Nadine J Walters – My Life

Question for today: What Does Community Mean to Me?

My Answer: Community, to me, is made up of the people and places I surround myself with. It’s where I feel supported, seen, and safe. Community is a soft place to land when I stumble and an enthusiastic cheer when I rise. It’s comfort, connection, and care.

Of course, my family is my community. I also consider two cities to be my physical communities—Northern Utah, where I live with my kids, and Southern Utah, where I spend time with my husband. Each location holds a special place in my heart, with familiar spots I return to again and again. My husband and children are my emotional anchors—the glue that holds me together. They are always welcoming, always there, and always ready to support me.

Communities evolve. Since retiring, I’ve noticed how my sense of community has shifted. For many years, my workplace was my core community. My office was my haven, a structured space that grounded me day after day. My coworkers and I shared time, stories, laughter, and life. After retirement, we tried to keep in touch, and we still do here and there, but without the shared physical space, the closeness has naturally changed.

In recent years, my yoga studio has become a vibrant community. I’ve been teaching there for five years, and both the teachers and students feel like kindred spirits. We share a love for yoga, and our connection goes beyond the mat. There’s a sense of mutual care, and I find the classes with my “regulars” especially meaningful. Just yesterday, I taught a small restorative yoga class. Before class, a few students mentioned aches and pains, so I adjusted the session to support them. Afterward, we chatted—it felt wonderful. This community is built through listening, kindness, and presence.

As I lean more into my artistic side, I’ve found myself growing yet another type of community. Thanks to modern technology, I regularly connect with fellow artists online. We paint together via Zoom, comment on each other’s work, and share snippets of life. It’s a space where we give more than we take—and somehow, that generosity lifts us all. We used to only share our art on platforms like Facebook or Circle, but now we meet in our “studios” virtually, talking, painting, and encouraging one another. In many ways, it feels like my old workplace: supportive, curious, and creatively charged. This community thrives on attention, intention, and genuine engagement.

And then there’s this blog—another form of community. I’ve blogged off and on over the years, but I’ve never truly committed to it. Now, I’m realizing that in order to build and sustain community, consistency is key. And it’s working—people are actually reading what I write. THANK YOU! I’m visiting their sites too, and this mutual exchange feels incredibly fulfilling. This blogging community grows through consistent sharing of thoughts and stories, and perhaps, inspiring others along the way.

Community enriches my life in countless ways. It lifts my spirits, brightens my days, and expands my world. It nudges me to show up, speak out, and share myself in ways I couldn’t if I were entirely alone.

Final Thought:
Community doesn’t have to be big or loud—it just has to be real. Whether it’s a yoga class, an online art circle, a blog comment, or a quiet evening with family, these small moments of connection are where the roots of community grow. And the more I nurture them, the more grounded, joyful, and whole I become.