{"id":4320,"date":"2021-02-03T09:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T14:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?p=4320"},"modified":"2023-09-22T17:17:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T21:17:34","slug":"episode-3-beating-loneliness-through-community-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/episode-3-beating-loneliness-through-community-building\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode 3: Beating Loneliness through Community Building"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Since high school, Jillian has felt the need to bring people together. In this episode, David speaks with Jillian Richardson, author of <em>Un-Lonely Planet<\/em>, about growing up in a high-achieving environment, the surprising prevalence of loneliness in urban areas, and strategies for hosting inclusive events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Beating Loneliness Through Community Building\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/4Ekp8Bx9KKCKztJVvLO6kO?si=HG4RL4n3TE-x2o87F2z-Ng&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ranked as one of the top <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.feedspot.com\/ceo_podcasts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">25 CEO podcasts on Feedspot<\/a>, Keep Connected with Meetup CEO David Siegel is a podcast about the power of community. For more details on other episodes, visit Keep Connected on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/category\/keep-connected-podcast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meetup Community Matters blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We hope you\u2019ll keep connected with us. Drop us a line at podcast@meetup.com. If you like the podcast, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/podcast\/id1545712240\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about Keep Connected host David Siegel\u2019s experience as a leader and decision maker in his book, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.decideandconquerbook.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Decide &amp; Conquer<\/em><\/a>. Pre-order your copy today!<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>Show Notes<\/h2>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">In this episode, o<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ur guest is Jillian Richardson.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">She\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">is the author of<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thatjillian.com\/book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Un<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8211;<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Lonely Planet<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/a><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. She is a speaker, a<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">n\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ecstatic dancer, and <\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">an\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">incredible human being. If you&#8217;re looking for practical ideas on being a great community organizer and inspiration, this is the episode for you<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">elcome<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0Jillian<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, to the show.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Thank you for having me, David. I appreciate it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">You are an amazing person. You are an inspiration<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">e&#8217;ll talk about all the different things that you&#8217;ve done<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. W<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">here do you get your inspiration from?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I think of myself as the classic archetype of the wounded healer.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">he things that we try and bring to others are the areas of our lives where we&#8217;ve struggled the most. I&#8217;ve felt a lot of personal pain in my life from feeling disconnected and alone. I know how much it hurts. I want to help people not feel that way.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat doesn&#8217;t destroy us makes us stronger<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Y<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">our strength is amazing. Take us back a bit<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">f you&#8217;re open to sharing some of those challenges and some of the strengths that came from that<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, w<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">e\u2019d love to learn.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, which is a wealthy town<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">O<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ne of those towns where all the kids are competing against each other to see who can garner the most achievements.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It&#8217;s a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">pre\u2013Ivy<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">L<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eague town. I lived in Fairfield, Connecticut from age\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">three<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> to five<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It\u2019s a very c<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ompetitive preschool that I went to back there.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I wouldn&#8217;t even be surprised if there&#8217;s\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">competition to get into preschools.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat was the culture I was raised i<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">n<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0was of<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0always thinking about your next steps<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, h<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ow are you going to be the best?\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">n my family, I joke<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0that if my dad was an action figure that had a little pull string, it would say<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like, \u201cW<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat&#8217;s your\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">bullseye?<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat are you shooting for<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">?\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hich in some senses served me because it allowed me to think that I can achieve big things and have that self-esteem, which is a gift. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">On<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0the other hand, it pushed me farther than I should have gone<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">L<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ooking back at my high school self<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I had anorexia for six years of my life,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">classic thing for a girl in that environment. I didn&#8217;t love my<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0body.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0I was in fo<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">u<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">r Advanced Placement classes. I was in two choirs. I was running a club while holding a job. I have no idea how I did it. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">n hindsight<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0it&#8217;s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">that I had this deep belief that I wasn&#8217;t\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">enough,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I had to prove that I was special in some way<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. M<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">oving to New York\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity as an adult and realizing this is a time for me to restart, to become a new person. I originally moved to the city because I wanted to be a comedy writer, which might be a surprise thinking about this<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">very\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">high<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8211;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">achieving person<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4341\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4341\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3KCMcaption1-1.jpg\" alt=\"KCM 3 | Beating Loneliness\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3KCMcaption1-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3KCMcaption1-1-473x315.jpg 473w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4341\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beating loneliness: There are so many events for singles who are looking for romantic partners, and there aren\u2019t many spaces where the intention is for friendship.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I\u2019m looking forward to hearing your material.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I don&#8217;t have the material anymore<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I quickly transitioned out of that dream. It was a dream<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I held all through college. I over-performed in comedy instead of school<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0I wanted to write for\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">late-<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">night TV shows. It&#8217;s why I moved to New York <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity and met people who were successful in that worl<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">d. N<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ot<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0to<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0speak for everyone in that field<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, b<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ut the people who I&#8217;d met who were TV\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0comedy writers genuinely didn&#8217;t seem that happy. I was\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">just\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">in this beautiful, rare position where I hadn&#8217;t found a job in New York\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity yet, which to me was a point of shame\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">at\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">that moment. I couldn&#8217;t find a job. I felt\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">like\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">such a failure.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">E<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">specially with the background that you had, where sometimes the people that look\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">like\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">they have everything the most together are the people that are oftentimes struggling behind the scenes<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the most<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t sounds\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">like\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">there was some of that with you as well.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I realized since I was in this position<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0without a job<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I could do whatever I wanted, which was awesome<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">at\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">the moment was terrifying and I hated it<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I became a freelance writer. I was ghostwriting<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0writing for a bunch of publications.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">n\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">November<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a02016, when Donald Trump was elected, I had this interesting juxtaposition in my life where I had done a lot of work to find my own people in New York\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity. I had finally found\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">community where it felt<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0people were loving and generous and gave of themselves<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ommunities<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0Medi<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">lub, which was a meditation community in New York\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitaldetox.com\/experiences\/camp-grounded?fbclid=IwAR3Hx0T-gY9iicZb8-GneD3wdVWOUHJmqh8ho877MIRLiiQ_WBWCk5X9ZdQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">amp\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">G<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">rounded<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, which is a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">digital detox summer camp <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">for\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">dults<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I finally had these people in my life that were incredible and gave me hope for humanity essentially.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0M<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">eanwhile, with Trump being elected, I heard people in my community saying,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I feel<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0I don&#8217;t have faith in people anymore. I feel I&#8217;m losing trust in humanity.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I wanted to let people know that no matter what day of the week it is in New York\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity, you can be in\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">community and you can find beautiful people, which was why I started this newsletter<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">to be<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like, \u201cT<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">his sucks<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0right<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0now<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and l<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ook at all of these amazing things going on that you might not know about.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">You turn<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ed<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0a challenge that not\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">just\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">you face, but it&#8217;s amazing how in the biggest of cities, people could feel the greatest of loneliness.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t&#8217;s not\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">just true\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">in New York\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, it\u2019s true\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">in LA<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0Rio, you name the city.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">here could be even a<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">reverse correlation where the bigger the city, probably the greater the numbers and percentages of people that do feel lonely because they&#8217;re surrounded by many people and you could feel even more empty<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Like, \u201cWh<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">at&#8217;s wrong with me?\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">There are<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0many people here. Why do I feel this way?<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun  BCX0 SCXW152135001\" lang=\"EN-SG\" xml:lang=\"EN-SG\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun  BCX0 SCXW152135001\">\u201cI had finally found community where people were really loving and generous.\u201d<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP  BCX0 SCXW152135001\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">S<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ometimes even why<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0for some people<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0it&#8217;s more difficult during the summertime.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hey look around, they see everyone&#8217;s happy during the summertime and therefore they should be happy<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, b<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ut in the\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">wintertime<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, everyone&#8217;s a bit miserable unless you<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0live in San Diego,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">then you&#8217;re happy all the time.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0Y<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ou were lonely when you first came to New York\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Y<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ou found some people, but they weren&#8217;t all that happy<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. You<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0start to build\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">community and find\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">community for yourself.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">H<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ow did you go from finding\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">community for yourself to building community and taking on that leadership role?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I had this feeling<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">when Trump came into office that I want to do something<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Y<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ou saw\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">at\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">that moment in history<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0so<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0many people creating projects around nonprofits, political organizations<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">that&#8217;s not my strong suit. That&#8217;s not where I\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">e<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">xcel or where my knowledge<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0is<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">t that point, I was<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cW<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat I do now is spaces where there&#8217;s love<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I think\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">could be helpful to people.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I didn&#8217;t know how long I would do it for. It was a spontaneous idea that I put together quickly<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat happened and why I continued to do it was I started to get emails from strangers saying,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cT<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">his is exactly how I feel<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0feel lonely and I&#8217;ve never heard someone express this before.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">t got to the point where I&#8217;d be at a party or something and people would come up and I became this weird<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">watered-down<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0priest where people would start confessing these feelings that they thought other people were feeling.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">For\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">me personally, it&#8217;s helpful that I&#8217;m someone who is a bit bubbly and extroverted and I don&#8217;t seem<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0to a lot of people<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">socially awkward.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">o see that someone\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">like\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">me feels\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">disconnected<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0sad and lonely<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, permits<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0people<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0to<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0say,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cI<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">f she&#8217;s feeling that way, it makes sense that I&#8217;m feeling this way. It&#8217;s not<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0just<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0these social hermits who feel this way.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">F<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">or\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">our readers,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">each time that you come over to someone and thank them and tell them that they are playing a role in helping you, it&#8217;s this positivity that can ignite them into doing even more positivity for others.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hen people come over to me and they happen to see me ordering at Starbucks and w<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">earing a M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup t-shirt and they say,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cY<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ou work at\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hey start pouring their hearts out and sharing about what\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">community has done for them at\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">i<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t gives me strength and it helps me. I want to encourage everyone to give that positive feedback to people, the Jillian&#8217;s of the world because even people that are leaders do need that help and strength. Fairfield has probably helped you<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ll that goal<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8211;<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">setting that you learned back in the Ivy\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">L<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eague preschools and elementary schools that you went\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">to. I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t&#8217;s served you well in terms of becoming the leader that you are<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0now.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">That\u2019s a fair point.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">It\u2019s n<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ot all bad, but the challenge is that environment isn&#8217;t optimal for many people\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">that<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0learn from it. Let&#8217;s talk about something that I read in an article that you had that you&#8217;ve written<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Y<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ou quoted\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">he\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Beatles<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and you wrote<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cA<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ll the lonely people, where do they all come from?<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0Personally<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I think\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">they come from a lack of in-person opportunities for young people to connect with each other in meaningful ways. Can you talk about that a bit more?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">he reason why in my newsletter I make an effort to only feature events that have facilitated connection is because we&#8217;ve lost the ability, especially young people<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">to drop in with others and to go deep in our conversations because it&#8217;s a skill.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0S<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">peaking for myself personally, it<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">wasn&#8217;t in the culture. I know there&#8217;s a whole element of this conversation<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat&#8217;s about technology and social media<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and f<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">or me, the thing that has impacted me more is not seeing that modeled by an older generation. I was moved by these events that I went to in New York\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity where we were asking each other what we were struggling with and we were sharing vulnerably with each other and we&#8217;re meditating together.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hey hit me deeply because I had never experienced a space\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">like\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">that before.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">t wouldn&#8217;t come naturally to me to come up to someone at an event and ask them anything other tha<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">n like,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cW<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat do you do<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">because\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I&#8217;d never seen it modeled.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hese spaces<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">serve as a model for what\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">relationship can be.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat&#8217;s why I&#8217;m such a big fan of facilitation because when we&#8217;re left to our own devices, we&#8217;ve got a sucky model for how to talk to each other.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">n your book<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Un<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8211;<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">lonely P<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">lanet<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, which is a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">must-<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">read for everyone, you&#8217;re talking about four different models around creating a great space. I don&#8217;t know if there&#8217;s a cliff notes version of it yet.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">S<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">poiler alert, if you don&#8217;t mind giving us the cliff notes version of each of the four<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> behavioral modeling, clear hurdle rates, unity through intention, and greeting with intention.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">E<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">very\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup organizer and\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup member can learn from you.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">H<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">elp us to learn a bit around these four areas.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">his is also inspired by Priya Parker, who is the author of\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.priyaparker.com\/thebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">he\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">rt of\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">G<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">athering<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0O<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ne of those that she mentions in her book and I mentioned in mine with different languaging is creating rules for your event.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat could be as simple as<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, \u201cW<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">e&#8217;re not going to check our phones<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0w<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hen we&#8217;re in this space<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">e&#8217;re going to leave our phones at the door<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cE<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">veryone who shows up has to be wearing footie pajamas.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">f you have a dinner for CEOs, for example<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and you&#8217;re worried about people bringing their ego and bringing their mask of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I&#8217;m this professional person<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0to do something to force people to strip that away.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0A<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0great thing would be<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cE<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">veryone who shows up at this dinner has to be wearing footie\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">p<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ajamas<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">G<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">etting big footie pajamas, you can&#8217;t be too serious with that.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat&#8217;s an example<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">he reason why that&#8217;s powerful is because when you&#8217;re in this space, first of all, you&#8217;re stripping away the people who aren&#8217;t comfortable with that<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0who they&#8217;re saying<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cT<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">his isn&#8217;t the space for me.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Also,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">so\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">that when everyone shows up, they know that they have something in common with the people there<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">t&#8217;s a unifying factor.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">o add to that, another rule that I share<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">with\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">your suggestion is to remind your attendees multiple times during your event<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">what they have in common with each other.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">n example of that that I&#8217;ve seen at my own events<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">before quarantine, I hosted an event called\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/joylist.nyc\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">he\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">J<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">oy<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0List<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">S<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ocial<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">he intention was for everyone there to make new friends.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">P<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">eople are going to come into that space with a lot of anxiousness. They&#8217;re in a space where they don&#8217;t know anyone<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I\u2019ve read that<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">p<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eople were creating fake tickets to get into that space.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">We started selling out these events<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. There are<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0many events for singles who are looking for romantic partners and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">there are\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">not many spaces where the clear <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-find-single-friends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">intention is for friendship<\/a>, which ironically also makes it a much better space to find dates because the pressure is<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0not there.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0friend of mine went to a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup event<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. He\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">w<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">asn&#8217;t looking for it as a singles event<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t was a kickball game and that&#8217;s where he ended up meeting his wife.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Y<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ou never know<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">S<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">erendipity strikes when you least expect it.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">S<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">omething that I&#8217;ve thought about quite a bit<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0I&#8217;d love to hear your perspective on it<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">O<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">n the one hand<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">community is best<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0w<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hen you find your people<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0on the other hand,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">community<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0i<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">s also best when there&#8217;s an amazing amount of diversity in that community as well.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0H<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ow do you reconcile the finding people which you talk about and also the criticality of diversity in terms of making\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">great community for a community organizer?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat I&#8217;ve seen work well is having a shared goal or something that you all value, which can then naturally bring in<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">also with intention, a diverse group of people.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">n example of that in my life<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0before I wrote this book, I was not a member of a church because I&#8217;d never found a church that matched my values or that I thought represented the vision that I hold for<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a loving world. I discovered Judson Memorial\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hurch, which if\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">you know\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">E<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">cstatic\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">D<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ance\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ommunity, it&#8217;s a dance community<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hey meet at Judson Memorial\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hurch in New York\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity. They&#8217;re the church with no pews by Washington\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">S<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">quare\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">P<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ark.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I joined their community ministry program, which essentially is a program for people who want to learn how to be a minister in their own community.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">It\u2019s n<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ot necessarily a religious minist<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">er<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I was talking to an organizer of an\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">E<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">cstatic\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">D<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ance\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup group.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">S<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">he was telling me that she had a virtual<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0E<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">cstatic\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">D<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ance\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup group<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">there were\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">twenty<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0people from\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">fifteen\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">different countries represented all doing an\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">E<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">cstatic\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">D<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ance together. I said,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I&#8217;ve got to be a part of that.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat&#8217;s awesome that you do that. I also love your point around\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">commonality of goal<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">s<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0but different ways in which each person has gotten to that point.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat&#8217;s where diversity is critical and special in a community<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">F<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">or all the\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup members and\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup organizers out there, any additional advice that you would give to someone who has never attended an event all the way through to someone who has been an organizer for many years<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0tip that I would give to someone who is an organizer who wants people to feel at home in your space would be<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0first of all, to greet people with intention<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0w<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hen they come in<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">he worst feeling in the world is to walk into an event alone and sign in<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0show them my ticket<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and then<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0I have no idea what to do. It&#8217;s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I guess I&#8217;m going to go up and start talking to a stranger.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">That first impression is important<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, e<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">specially since there&#8217;s a lot of anxiety that people\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">would<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0have, especially if they came by themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t&#8217;s why many people will bring someone to a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup event or another event because it gives them that security blanket<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">f you don&#8217;t have that,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">then\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">being\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">very\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">intentional around greeting<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4342\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4342\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4342\" src=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3KCMcaption2-1.jpg\" alt=\"KCM 3 | Beating Loneliness\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3KCMcaption2-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3KCMcaption2-1-473x315.jpg 473w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4342\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beating Loneliness: There are some really interesting benefits that people can lean into in a virtual space.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">o give an example,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">be<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">cause it&#8217;s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cW<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat is greeting someone look<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like?\u201d F<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">irst of all, to train your volunteers, say<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cY<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">our job<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0w<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hen this person comes in is to be a source of support for them<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0be warm, look them in the eye, greet them by their name<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0tell them your name.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Say like, i<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">f you ever want someone to talk to, I am here<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">O<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ur invitation is when you go inside, find someone you don&#8217;t know and ask them this question, whatever you want the question to be.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">In t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat way<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0people have permission to talk to somebody new and they know that they&#8217;re not being weird because everyone was given the same\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">instructions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">G<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ive me, another nugget for our organizers and members may<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">be given on the member side this time.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">P<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eople who not<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0just<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0organize events,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0but<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0people who attend events<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. L<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">et&#8217;s hea<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">r<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0another from the secret sauce of J<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">il<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">lian Richardson. What<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0else do<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0we\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">get<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW53143784 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-SG\" xml:lang=\"EN-SG\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53143784 BCX0\">N<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW53143784 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-SG\" xml:lang=\"EN-SG\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53143784 BCX0\">o matter what day of the week it is<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW53143784 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-SG\" xml:lang=\"EN-SG\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53143784 BCX0\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW53143784 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-SG\" xml:lang=\"EN-SG\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53143784 BCX0\">you can\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW53143784 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-SG\" xml:lang=\"EN-SG\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW53143784 BCX0\">be in community.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW53143784 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240,&quot;469777462&quot;:[6724],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">f you&#8217;re going to an event and you&#8217;re on your own and you want to talk to people and you&#8217;re not sure how to start, I would be honest<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I&#8217;ve had some great conversations with people where you start by saying,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">H<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">i<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0obvious<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ly<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">this is how we start<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and just share like, \u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I came here alone. I don&#8217;t know anyone<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. I&#8217;m<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0feeling nervous.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat brought you here?<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">B<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">y sharing how you&#8217;re feeling<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">permission<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0the other person to be<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I came here alone too. I moved to the city. This is weird.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0You can bond that way.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Y<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ou&#8217;re signaling<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I&#8217;m an honest person<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I&#8217;m a vulnerable person.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0They&#8217;re probably going to trust you more<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">if that&#8217;s genuinely how you&#8217;re feeling with authentic<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I would want to bump into you at a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup event or any other event for that matter. Let&#8217;s talk about distraction a bit.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I&#8217;ve seen your writings about it<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. O<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">n the one hand<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0I&#8217;ve always felt\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">like\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">a\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">distraction is not necessarily good because<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">you&#8217;re not being present<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. B<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eing present is important.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">On\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the other hand<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0we all need distractions in our lives<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">f you<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">need to be present and need\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">to\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">occupy every second of your time, that&#8217;s also a challenge. What are your thoughts\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">around\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">pros<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and cons of distraction generally?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Given where w<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">e&#8217;re at in history now,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a thing that I&#8217;ve seen online that drives me nuts is people trying to get folks to live their best lives during\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">quarantine.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I\u2019m like, \u201cC<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">an&#8217;t we got to give ourselves grace. We are<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0surviving.\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0Anytime I share something on Instagram that&#8217;s around the idea of giving yourself compassion and saying<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like, \u201cY<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ou&#8217;re not going to look back on this time in history and think,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I wish I watched less Netflix.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat was a waste of time.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0You&#8217;re going to think,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I&#8217;m<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">glad I lived through that period of time.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hatever you got to do, you&#8217;re probably going to be eating more junk food or watching a lot of Netflix or zoning out on social media. I want to give you a permission slip to say that&#8217;s okay. It&#8217;s probably not what a lot of people are saying, but it&#8217;s fine. We&#8217;re living through this time. We don&#8217;t have to be\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">#<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hriving.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat&#8217;s\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">an<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0important message for people. You don&#8217;t have to be on and\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">be<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0okay all the time.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">B<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">efore we get into rapid<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8211;<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">fire questions, I&#8217;ve got to ask you about\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">amp\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">G<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">rounded<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">At Meetup<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">w<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">e always talk about how we use technology to get people off of technology and how technology is such a double-edged sword in people&#8217;s lives.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">D<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">uring the pandemic<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0technology was essential to keeping people connected when we couldn&#8217;t get together in person.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">alk a bit about\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">amp\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">G<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">rounded<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. O<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">n a personal\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">level<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I keep the Jewish Sabbath. I don&#8217;t use technology for 25 hours<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">each week<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and i<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t&#8217;s important to m<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">e. T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">alk a bit about how separation from technology has helped you in<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0Digital Detox<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat particular space<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I was lucky. It was one of the first things I did after I moved to New York\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity. It was the summer I moved here<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">amp\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">G<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">rounded<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">is a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">four-day<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0summer camp for adults, no substance use<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">d so<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0it&#8217;s sober and no technology. You also use a silly fake name instead of your real name.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">y\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">amp\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">G<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">rounded name is\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">L<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ady.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">he other rule was you don&#8217;t talk about work or your age.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">t&#8217;s on purpose<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">stripping\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">away all of the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">identities<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0w<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">e hold on to<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hen I went, I&#8217;m a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">22-year-old<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0writer who lives in New York\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity. If I&#8217;d held onto that tightly, I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s a woman named\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">D<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">olphin at camp<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0who at the end of it, I found out was\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">twenty\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">years older than me and a lawyer.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">e were<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">best buds the whole time<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">e were having<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0so<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0much fun. We still talk years later.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">e are intentionally creating a space where you have no choice but to be present with the people in front of you.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Also,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0you have permission to tap your child<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">like<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0joy, being in a space with adults of all ages who are being silly and playing with each other. It was beautiful<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and a<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">lso weirdly<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0it was the sense of grief of<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cT<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">his exists in all of us<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">?\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">h<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">t percentage of our life do we get to express this side of ourselves as adults?<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">It\u2019s s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">eldom.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">You talked about the importance of commonality in\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">community<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. S<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">tripping all those things away created more commonality between people who could have been different.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8216;ve participated in something called laughter yoga<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">s a comedian or former comedian or someone who thought they were going to be a comedian, laughter can be great medicine<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The l<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ast question is\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">about <\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">advice\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">on\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">how to make for a great online event and how it needs to be different than in<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8211;<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">person<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I would, first of all, name the things that people are thinking and be<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like, \u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">his is a digital space. We&#8217;re going to connect with each other differently<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">o think about the benefits of virtual spaces that might not exist in real life.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0I know people who run fitness organizations and they found that their attendance is going up in their classes because people get to have their video off and not feel self-conscious about exercising in front of other people<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">or because folks can close their computer or turn their camera off at any moment<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hey&#8217;re bringing more honesty and vulnerability than they would feel comfortable within an in-person space.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">here are some interesting benefits that people can lean into in a virtual space that I want to highlight because it&#8217;s easy to be<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cT<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">his sucks<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">in-person is better.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t goes to the double-edged sword of everything that sometimes people&#8217;s best traits are also their most challenging traits about themselves<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the need for people to find the good and challenging times as well<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and t<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">here is<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">O<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">nline events can be<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0at times<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0even more powerful for certain people at certain times than others.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t&#8217;s up to each of us to figure out that path where it&#8217;s using chat. I teach at Columbia and this is going to be my first semester teaching online. I&#8217;m finding a whole bunch of different ways to make it<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0hopefully<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0an even better experience for students. Now we are going to hit some rapid<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8211;<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">fire questions. I&#8217;m going to hit you with a question a<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">nd a<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0quick response answer. Number one, one time that community had the biggest impact on your life<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegetdownnyc.com\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">The\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">G<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">et\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">D<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">own<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0in New York\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ity, it&#8217;s a dance party.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Why<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">t helped me\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">top being afraid of being in my body.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4343\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4343\" style=\"width: 197px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4343\" src=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3KCMcaption3-1-197x315.jpg\" alt=\"KCM 3 | Beating Loneliness\" width=\"197\" height=\"315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3KCMcaption3-1-197x315.jpg 197w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3KCMcaption3-1.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4343\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Un-Lonely Planet: How Healthy Congregations Can Change the World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Number two,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">what is\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">your favorite quote<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This is a quote\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">b<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">y Alan Ke<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ight<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ley and it says<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cO<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">nce in a while, it hits people that they don&#8217;t have to experience the world and the way they have been<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0told to.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Number three<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">what is your\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">f<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">avorite leadership book<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Something that you think that\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the readers<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0should<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">read or listen to<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This is not a business book, but I&#8217;m going to shout it out anyways.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">t&#8217;s called\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thomasmooresoul.com\/a-religion-of-ones-own\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">R<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">eligion of\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">O<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">ne&#8217;s\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">O<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">wn<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0by Thomas Moore.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">t&#8217;s about developing your own personal sense of spirituality and sacredness.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0lot of leaders are drained because they don&#8217;t have any sense of the sacred in their lives.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Y<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ou didn&#8217;t list\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Un<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8211;<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Lonely P<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">lanet<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, but I&#8217;m sure\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat&#8217;s the top\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">book<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0for you. I know you&#8217;re writing another book around sec<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ular<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">places.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat probably has a prominent role in your next book. I&#8217;m excited to read that myself.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What is your f<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">irst job ever<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I worked at a snack stand at a country club.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">That sounds like Fairfield. <\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">When is the f<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">irst time you saw yourself as a leader<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Maybe in high school. I started a chapter of a club called\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">S<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">TAND<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, which is\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">S<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">tudents\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">aking\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">A<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ction\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Now:\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Darfur in my high school.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">his is the experience of saying<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0like,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cI<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0wanted to do this thing.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0People are willing to join. People are willing to contribute and organize<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. I\u2019m like, \u201cCo<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">me to Washington DC with me<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat was a powerful experience.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW136644095 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-SG\" xml:lang=\"EN-SG\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW136644095 BCX0\">This is a digital space. W<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW136644095 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-SG\" xml:lang=\"EN-SG\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW136644095 BCX0\">e\u2019re going to conne<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW136644095 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-SG\" xml:lang=\"EN-SG\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW136644095 BCX0\">ct with each other differently.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW136644095 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">How energizing was that?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">It was cool.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">y first leadership was also a club in high school that got me out of my shell on a personal level.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The final\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">question to ask you about, I&#8217;m genuinely interested in hearing it. Jillian, hopefully<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0life will last for a long time. What are you most want to be remembered by?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I want to be remembered as someone who leaves people in a room feeling better than before I was there.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The aspiration is something that everyone could potentially achieve<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. I<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">t&#8217;s something that everyone can do multiple times a day.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hat&#8217;s what&#8217;s beautiful about it. Jillian<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, y<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">ou rock<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Keep up the\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">amazing work. I feel inspired by you. I hope each of our\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">readers<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0feels inspired by you<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. T<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">hank you for everything that you do and for the communities that you build and the communities you&#8217;re going to be building in years to come.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Thank you, David. I<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">appreciate it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Take care.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8212;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Thank<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0you<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0for\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">listening. <\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">We hope you enjoyed<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0this episode. M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">y favorite part of it was the discussion around all the practical tips that Jillian shared<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. A<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">s\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0CEO of\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">M<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">eetup<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">I learned a lot that I could bring back to the company.<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0If you have a review for this episode, share it. Give us five stars. We\u2019ll take it and just remember, let\u2019s keep connected because life is always better together.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">Important Links:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thatjillian.com\/book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Un-Lonely Planet<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitaldetox.com\/experiences\/camp-grounded?fbclid=IwAR3Hx0T-gY9iicZb8-GneD3wdVWOUHJmqh8ho877MIRLiiQ_WBWCk5X9ZdQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Camp Grounded<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.priyaparker.com\/thebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Art of Gathering<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thomasmooresoul.com\/a-religion-of-ones-own\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">A Religion of One&#8217;s Own<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/joylist.nyc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/JoyList.nyc\/<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\">About Jillian Richardson<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;469777462&quot;:[916,1832,2748,3664,4580,5496,6412,7328,8244,9160,10076,10992,11908,12824,13740,14656],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]}\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4345\" src=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Jillian-Richardson-1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"KCM 3 | Beating Loneliness\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>Jillian Richardson helps people find a sense of belonging within themselves and their relationships. She&#8217;s the author of <em>Un-Lonely Planet<\/em>, a guide to creating a strong sense of community. She\u2019s also the creator of The Joy List, a weekly newsletter of events and tools that help people create more connections in their life. When she\u2019s not facilitating workshops or coaching one-on-one, you can find Jillian studying as a community minister at Judson Memorial Church and talking to every dog she meets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"post-excerpt\"><p>Author of Un-Lonely Planet Jillian Richardson shares strategies for hosting inclusive events during episode 3 of the Keep Connected podcast. <\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":5730,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Beating Loneliness Through Community Building With Jillian Richardson<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Connection coach Jillian Richardson joins David Siegel in a discussion about how you can beat 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