Age doesn't count in a family as each and every member has a valuable contribution to make....... that's what makes the relationships priceless!
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Win a £150 Waterstones voucher and a copy of The Switch *NOW CLOSED*
(817 Posts)To celebrate the release of The Switch by Beth O'Leary we're giving one lucky gransnetter the chance to win a £150 Waterstones voucher, along with a copy of the book. We're also giving two runners-up £50 worth of Waterstones vouchers each as well as a copy of the book.
More details on the prize can be found HERE and T&Cs HERE. We will pick a winner after 11am on 23rd May.
To enter simply tell us... How important is it for people of all ages to feel connected to their community?
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It is very important. Without community we would feel lonely and isolated. This could affect our mental health which is just as important as our physical health. Stay safe and stay connected x
It is extremely important for people of all ages to feel connected to their local community as it benefits well-being and leads to healthy attitudes to life. Without this, people can feel neglected, leading to a downturn in their mental well-being, so please keep in touch with friends, family and neighbours - not forgetting those people that you don't yet know well!
I think it’s extremely important. Every generation can both learn and offer so much to other generations in so many areas. Also we can only help each other by staying in touch even if that can only be done remotely at the moment it’s important we continue to do this.
It is vital but it should not take something like the situation we are in to bring it to a head.
We are all human beings no one is better than the other.
Hope those who survive this monster appreciate what we have
This Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of connecting to the local community. Those in strong communities are looking out for and supporting each other, those who were already isolated are feeling it more than ever.
Very. There are those in society who are isolated & lonely and go under the radar and can't/don't/won't ask for help when they need it. The current situation is hopefully identifying some of those who need assistance and hopefully we as a community can do more in the future for those same people
There are several aspects of community, we are part of a Facebook group for our housing estate but also connected through WhatsApp with our musical groups and our families. We are using Zoom to chat with friends, both local and far away. We’re so lucky to have the internet!
It is very important to feel part of a community - no man is an island - as John Donne wrote. A person who has no contact with other members of their community has a life which is the poorer for it.
We all need people and hopefully we all matter to someone.
Isolation leads to depression and other mental illness.
We, as humans, need the company of others. We rely on others for our mental wellbeing, as well as our physical needs. Most are gregarious so it is essential that we connect with each other. The young can learn from the old and the old can, definitely, learn from the young. We are all in this life, together.
Hugely important. One thing this crisis is doing is bringing back community. People are looking out for elderly or ailing neighbours. We have a lady who is dressed as Where's Wally, she is wandering the streets and waving to the children, she is doing and amazing job and it gives the children something to look forward to each day.
Being isolated, we have had a great deal of help lately from our neighbours and the local community. This is one of the wonderful things about living in a village.
I think it’s extremely important. In our area we are doing a collection for the food bank , because their stocks are very low, my house is one of the drop off points. we have a covid 19 help page on our estate, between us all we have managed to cover all streets which is about 80 or more. Elderly are covered because when someone needs someone to get something for them one off us shops for them, I’m also signed up to the next area from me , so I can collect prescriptions and shopping for the elderly and self isolated people. We are also collecting toiletries to go to two hospitals . It’s amazing to part of such a great community .
Totally essential for healthy mind and body.
I believe it is important to be connected to a community - this needn’t be in your locality but could be family, shared interest groups, gransnet or even your local credit union. Social media makes keeping in touch easy however, a phone call or letter can be very impactful. For me the communities I belong to take away my fear of loneliness and of dying alone. My life feels as if it has worth and purpose if I have others to share it with.
I think from an early age youngsters should connect with the community so that we can all interact with one another as we go through life and be there for each other.
In years to come, we may look back at this and say it was a pivotal time in history, when we changed our ways or living. working from home. helping the environment, looking out for each other, and we really have been looking out for each other. Panic buying selfishness put aside. Feeling that strangers care for your well being within the community is vital. Many a suicide has happened due to people feeling uncared for.
We bemoan social media, but we are all very grateful for it at present
Connection and communication makes a better world. This is why in poor countries you will find the connection in poor communities is so much stronger than in the west.
I can testify to this from a friend who did some missionary work out in Aftica. The impact the work had on him was massive.
He reported that they had nothing, yet were so willing to share everything with them and that community, spirituality and love shone through them.
He said when they left they left them with clothes, stationary and pretty much everything they had bought with them. They were so grateful and full of joy. It was completely overwhelming. It took him weeks to get used to normal life here in the U.K, again. The experience changed him
We are seeing alot of the community sense coming out during this pandemic! I pray that it will endure and not revert to normal once we we are allowed back out into the world
It feels like the universe has sent us to our rooms to think about what we have done. I am just so full of gratitude this has happened at a time with the technology we have to still interact.
I don't believe the world will go back to how it was before Covid19. That can only be for the better
Life is about communication, connection, pure love and care. Not this rat race we live in.
The universe is out master. We aren't. I hope now we will continue on the path the majority of us are on and not revert
all ages as we are all people - we have the need for connection and friendship. now more than ever.
Every Thursday when we clap to the NHS, we feel connected our communities and it lifts our spirits. I have noticed that my mood lowers with less contact I have with people.
It’s very important as without your community it’s very easy to become isolated especially during this terrible health crisis
Extremely important.
It is very important. We shoul all be looking out for each other at the moment
Keeping in touch is important and I think the natural British reserve does not help in that respect. That said, when people do interact with and care for one another the outcome is generally mutually beneficial, even if one is seen as giving and the other receiving some sort of benefit. I think the pandemic crisis will have been useful in encouraging people to feel more connected but, paradoxically, they are currently less able to do so!
Very important if you’ve got internet access keep in touch with family and friends ,makes you feel good when you talk with others via face time etc :
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