Community used to be a simple concept. The place you live, the people around you, who collectively defined the character and ambience of your neighborhood and what living there felt like. I grew up in a tight knit coal mining community where there were few strangers – people were happy to talk openly to each other whether they knew them or not. There were a loose set of common values and no one would dream of “passing by on the other side “ if someone was in need. By no means was this a perfect place, but it was a nice place to spend my early years.

Although simple in nature, it truly defined what a community should be about – give and take. I got lots from the community – social skills, being able to communicate with people of all ages from various backgrounds; a safe place to be; opportunities to play and learn; an understanding of how life really worked. Giving back? I was not a troublesome teenager – never used a spray can or dropped litter; joined clubs; helped people when I could; delivered the Christmas post. Tried to be the child my parents would be proud of .

Today the notion of community is not so simple. As well as the physical communities around us there are endless virtual communities that it is possible to embrace. Every human activity can be found in a community of some form or another. The critical issue is choice – where do you want to live your life? Time is finite so understanding what you can contribute as well as the corresponding benefits you will get is an important factor. The balance between physical and virtual interactions is also a consideration.Playing in a positive environment rather than a negative one; supportive versus ( v. ) antagonistic; reinforcing existing notions rather than learning and enlightenment; fun v. industry; happy v. sad ; understanding the financial impacts of choices made….. etc,etc.

The considerations involved are almost as comprehensive as the opportunities available. The only thing for certain is that the communities we join will shape “who we are”. Be aware of the impacts and be deliberate in your choices. If you spend your life in a community where you just observe, rather than participate, then the growth opportunities may be limited. If your engagement is just for fun or to “relax”, then a pertinent point is how much time to you spend there? There is a balance between growth, enjoyment and superficiality.

Picking up a device is exactly the same as walking out of your front door. Be aware of where you are going, what you are going to do, what you are going to give and consequently have a sense of how your life will be enriched.