December 7: Community
Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?
(Author: Cali Harris)
(Author: Cali Harris)
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Before coming to work at my current job 3 years ago, I had this notion that I could have friends at work, but my relationship with them started and ended each day between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Or also, in our case, the nights and weekends that we have events.
It wasn't until sometime in 2009 that I started hanging out more often with my coworkers after hours. Then, for my birthday in October 2009, I had a mix of both friends and work friends at my birthday gathering. I was nervous at first, bouncing back and forth between the two groups, making sure my coworker friends (the only 2 I invited) weren't feeling neglected. And then the jager bomb ended that.
I got a real sense of building a community with my coworker friends outside of work on December 31, 2009. Rather than do something with my normal group of friends, I went over to Derrick's house with other close coworkers. It definitely felt different ringing in the new year without my usual suspects by my side. But at the same time, it felt right.
It wasn't until sometime in 2009 that I started hanging out more often with my coworkers after hours. Then, for my birthday in October 2009, I had a mix of both friends and work friends at my birthday gathering. I was nervous at first, bouncing back and forth between the two groups, making sure my coworker friends (the only 2 I invited) weren't feeling neglected. And then the jager bomb ended that.
I got a real sense of building a community with my coworker friends outside of work on December 31, 2009. Rather than do something with my normal group of friends, I went over to Derrick's house with other close coworkers. It definitely felt different ringing in the new year without my usual suspects by my side. But at the same time, it felt right.
Throughout the year, my tight knit community of friends started to drift apart. This is nobody's fault. It's what we call life. Marriage, babies, house buying, jobs - we all got immersed in what we were doing and went our own ways. We still do things together; and no matter what, we will still be there for each other whenever needed.
And while that was happening, I started forming a stronger bond with some work friends. I know that Courtney doesn't like to be referred to as a "work friend;" she says that they are my friends, too. I don't mean it in any kind of negative connotation or for it to sound like they are less of a friend. They are without a doubt my friends. It's just a term I use.
While building a community outside of work with my coworkers has been a great thing, it isn't without challenges. If we get into an argument outside of the work place, it can be uncomfortable when we're at work the next day. Or, if we get into an argument at work, it's tough not to take it out on the friendship and ignore the person. I have experienced both of these situations, and it's definitely awkward turtle.
And while that was happening, I started forming a stronger bond with some work friends. I know that Courtney doesn't like to be referred to as a "work friend;" she says that they are my friends, too. I don't mean it in any kind of negative connotation or for it to sound like they are less of a friend. They are without a doubt my friends. It's just a term I use.
While building a community outside of work with my coworkers has been a great thing, it isn't without challenges. If we get into an argument outside of the work place, it can be uncomfortable when we're at work the next day. Or, if we get into an argument at work, it's tough not to take it out on the friendship and ignore the person. I have experienced both of these situations, and it's definitely awkward turtle.
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For 2011, I would like to join the Austin community in giving back. Ever since college and my APO days, I have longed to get involved in community service again. To go from years of doing hundreds of hours of volunteer work a semester to doing none is not okay with me. This is something I feel strongly about and want to make a commitment to doing. 
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