I started meditating five years ago, beginning with free guided meditations and mindful colouring books. I probably wasn't the only one turning to these strategies in 2020. Over time, my meditation practice evolved. I needed less direction and could simply be present in my bedroom or outside. Eventually, I started recording and sharing my own guided meditations. Now, my journey with meditation is expanding again. Not only am I hosting regular guided meditation groups, but I am exploring how meditation and mindfulness can help foster community connection.
Whether we realize it or not, each community has a web of stories that set the stage for deeper connections. Maybe the stories center around the place they live, the identities they hold, or the values they champion. But stories aren't always as empowering or as connective as we would like to think. In this short article, together we explore how some stories have a way of breaking down community connection, even as they claim to strengthen it.