Do you think that individuals with exceptional talent perform optimally when fueled by the power of community? Are the rest of us imbued with a higher sense of wellbeing, throughout life's highs and lows, when we live in the presence of people and environments that inspire and nurture us?
A sense of community can lead to extraordinary personal growth. It has for me. While I sense that the people and place that make up my daily life are special, I am also perplexed to define exactly what I have come upon and how it happened. How one might find it somewhere else. How an individual can create community where none exists.
Susan Cheever, in American Bloomsbury (2006), writes about "coincidences of greatness being the result of proximity to greatness." Her book's thesis is that the accomplishments of some of the uppermost thinkers and writers in American history – Ralph Waldo Emmerson, Elizabeth Peabody, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Margaret Fuller, Henry David Thoreau, Horace Mann, Herman Melville, and Louisa May Alcott – are linked to the stimulation and support they received from one another, living as close neighbors in Concord, Massachusetts in the mid 1850's.
These literary greats also came in contact with Henry James, Emily Dickinson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Walt Whitman, who lived in nearby towns, and added to their washtub of ideas from time to time.
Cheever poses a theory that from their collaborations with each other and the Concord landscape came almost every nineteenth century American Masterpiece. Cheever writes, "They fell desperately in and out of love with each other, edited each other's work, talked all night and walked arm in arm under Concord's great elms. They picked apples together in the fall, swam together in the river, mourned together the loss of Emerson's five-year-old son and Margaret Fuller, shipwrecked at sea, and encouraged and celebrated each other's accomplishments."
"They campaigned together for temperance and for abolition, and supported and hosted African American abolitionists who found refuge in their homes. They adored Greek Revival architecture and loved nature and gardening in a natural setting."
"Similar to the influences of "The Bloomsbury Group" in London, for which the book is named, this group of individuals defined our modern beliefs about environmentalism, conservation, and the importance of individual self. They formed the first American literary community and were the country's first professional authors. They developed a theological and philosophical belief system – transcendentalism – by first advancing and then building on Unitarian beliefs."
These remarkable men and women were so improbably concentrated in placid Concord, Massachusetts, that Henry James referred to the town as the "biggest little place in America." Hawthorne called it Eden. Emerson called life there the happiest days of his life.
Cheever's central question driving my purchase of the book was the following: What was it about this time and place – the mid-nineteenth century in a landlocked town near Boston- that caused this sudden outbreak of genius?
Since ancient times, theories were proposed to explain why geniuses seem to be grouped together in specific times and locations. Consider Pluto, Aristotle, Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles; or Washington, Madison, Jefferson and Franklin. Consider the diaspora of American writers and musicians in Paris in the 1930's captured in Woody Allen's film " Midnight in Paris."
Modern research on genius clusters has shown that circumstances, political conditions, landscape, and community forces sometimes come together to create an unusual concentration of talent that nurtures genius. Or perhaps, genius clusters attract genius.
I am not a genius, but I live in a special community that makes me feel immensely happy and inspires me to think and create beyond my natural ability. Over the years I have tried to understand the Beaufort magnet, which locals call the "Beauzone," and how it affects my life.
I fell in love with Beaufort's old houses with big front porches where residents chat with passersby or invite them up for coffee or wine.
There is a visual harmony in so many houses painted white with picket fences, and a visual excitement to notice architectural differences or to find the unique cottage that speaks delightfully of the owner's individuality.
Gardens are loved; trees and birds abound.
My friend Sally kayaks in the marshes as wild ponies nibble the grasses a meter away.
The night skies are clear and filled with stars. The cloud formations and afternoon sunsets over the water inspire painters and poets.
We have no local newspaper but the one we had was called "The Gam" a nautical term to describe one whaling ship (or "whaler") paying a social visit to another at sea. It's still the way we pass information that matters, but now it occurs as we walk, bike, fish, shop or have a beer at the pub.
Town scheduled events and activities could fill a lonely person's social calendar for the year, as well as offering a good place for locals to meet newcomers. The Farmer's market, sidewalk-lined streets, community parks, and outdoor yoga and Zumba classes encourage social interactions and outdoor physical activity with others.
On Halloween, both adults and children wear whimsical hand-made costumes, and parade along Ann Street, harking back to the 1950s.
Adults from adjoining streets bring bags of treats for the children, and potluck food and drinks for an adult block party, as the moon rises and the kids go to sleep.
To celebrate Thanksgiving, hundreds come together on the old courthouse grounds for a community meal. Neighbors decorate boats with lights for a Christmas parade on the waterway, and anything with wheels for the Independence Day parade down Front Street.
Beaufort creates an energy for individual initiative. Several years ago, neighbor Nikki, used Facebook to propose an idea for a monthly "Ladies Night Out", open to all women in the community. She lines up a host per month to provide the space; and everyone brings drinks and bites.
One night we had a man dressed as a woman who wanted to join the fun, but we sent him away, laughing. LNO was curtailed during the Covid-19 crisis but we are eager to restart this inclusive pop-up party that widens our circle of friends and grows community.
JJ recently opened a fresh food and hot dog stand, Freschis Food. Laveria Pritchett announces her home cooked roasted turkey legs and Southern sides on her Facebook website, "G-grits and stuff," which neighbors can order and pick-up on Fridays and Saturdays.
Simon Idir Hill, a French transplant, needed a good baguette so opened a bakery. Apparently, others did as well. The lines for his bread wrap around the block.
There is an abundance of local farmers and crafts folk who sell their wares at the Farmer's Market.
Our small town's residents are friendly and have fascinating life experiences and breadth of knowledge. Just ask them for a life story and be prepared to be astonished. They are eager to engage you in an interesting conversation or invite you to join their group of writers, readers, gardeners, artists, yoginis, woodworkers, historical preservationists, birders, tree planters, rowers, and church groups.
There are volunteer opportunities such as removing trash from our barrier islands, conducting bird counts, maintaining the downtown gardens, delivering meals to the housebound, or serving on town advisory committees.
It is easy for a newcomer to be quickly woven into the fabric of our lives.
Good people seem to attract other good people. As one friend said, "We came in on a sail boat and decided to make it our home after meeting so many delightful people. To our surprise, the number of kind and interesting people keeps growing." Another couple owned a picturesque home on the Pamlico Sound and had all the natural beauty they could absorb, but felt isolated from other people. They made repeated visits to Beaufort, and finally bought a house, lured by its mix of peace and vitality, seeking community.
I've been asking neighbors what our community means to them. Here are a few responses:
"When my husband and I married 20 years ago, we found we had the love of this place in common, from our childhood visits with family, and with our current interests like sailing, diving and generally being near the ocean. We started our own business, so we could leave corporate life and work from home in Beaufort. So, yes we love this place. And we love the friends we’ve made here, the events and comfort of walking to social places in our quiet little town."
"The safety of Beaufort attracted me. When I first moved here I would walk at 10-11 pm and think nothing of it...always felt safe. Now, 24 years later, I pretty much still feel that way...though it is closer to 8-9 pm, as I know so many people I can go to if I have an issue. Not that I ever have, but I know they are there."
"This community is a shared experience. It helps us be our best, produce our best, to think more deeply and to live more fully."
"We have chosen to be geographically close together and we seem to all like porches. You can't pass a porch without saying "Hey".
Even during Covid-19 there was less isolation due to the close proximity of our houses and the towns walkability. We exchanged greetings and news as we walked with masks. Socially distanced porch visits were also common. During winter months, many neighbors installed fire pits and gathered two or three friends at a time, who brought their own drinks and snacks, all longing for a safe level of contact with others. At other challenging times, such as hurricanes, people rebuild each other's houses, grill and share food from their freezer, open soup kitchens and provide free commodities for those without electricity or those with little financial reserves to survive disasters.
This community has many elements that promote physical, mental, and social wellbeing. We have witnessed how these conditions nurture all kinds of talent. While my small town is a great place to live for some, it can be strengthened with greater inclusion.
Since his tenure, our young mayor has led visioning exercises to engage citizens in setting parameters for town growth. To be a town that promotes an active and engaging life for every age and stage of life, and for those of diverse backgrounds and incomes, requires an articulated vision and a responsive city government that upholds the vision. We are not quite there yet, but working on it.
In 1977, I had the awesome experience to hear anthropologist Margaret Mead speak about "community" in the year before she died. During that lecture, Mead told the audience that American community development was on the wrong track by creating insular communities aimed at only one demographic-singles, young families with children, the elderly, the wealthy, or the poor.
She suggested that the best communities are ones that attract and support diverse individuals at all stages of life and income, because individuals benefit when exposed to a range of ages and life experiences different from their own. Older people have much to offer to a neighborhood child whose grandparents live across country; and support to his parents as they navigate parenting. Elderly benefit from teens in the neighborhood who can help them with chores; and teens benefit from the support and guidance of a range of adults, beyond their parents. Those with resources may be more apt to reach out to those with little, when they are in sight, not out of sight.
I think people look for different kinds of communities at all stages of life. This concept provides a lens for community improvement. I'd like to think of Beaufort as the right place for every stage of my life, but can also identify services that will be required.
Driven by the business community, Beaufort is in danger of focusing too much on tourism and not enough on supporting diversity. Too focused on potential tax revenue from developers who destroy maritime forests to build expensive homes; and not enough on building middle and lower income homes. Not enough on innovative services for every stage of life. In danger of losing its soul.
Some of us are blessed to have been magnetically drawn to a place we can truly call home. Home being much more than your house and street. It is the nurturing nest that surrounds you while you continue to incubate. Community is a physical entity – urban, suburban or rural; and more importantly it is the relationships we develop that are catalysts for change, that can provide accountability and motivate us to reach our potential. A place to work, live, learn and play. All within proximity to schools, employers, entertainment, shopping, and recreation which builds connections.
Over the years I have tried to understand the effects of Beaufort on my life. I turned to some definitions of community provided by our friendly and helpful Google. This enabled me to think about what we have and what we need to do to be a stronger community for everybody.
"The word community is, without question, central to human experience. Being part of a community gives us a sense of belonging. It enables us to share personal relatedness and support perpetual growth of each other, ourselves and our environment." (Google)
"Stronger communities enable emotional support, access to the resources and networks of other community members, exchange of knowledge and skills that leads to personal and professional development, friendships that add joy to life, and the potential to collaborate with others to generate greater impact in the world." (Google)
"Having a sense of community unites us. Being a part of a community can make us feel as though we are a part of something greater than ourselves. It can give us opportunities to connect with people, to reach for our goals, and makes us feel safe and secure. It's important for every person to have a sense of community." (Google)
"A good community is a cohesive, safe, confident, prosperous and happy place. It is free of poverty and crime, providing a high quality of life for everyone that lives there. It values and promotes open, participative development processes underpinned by a continuous culture of trans-generational learning." (Google)
It seems that the best reason for forming "community" is that we need each other. Jen Waak, a health, wellness and fitness coach, offers six reasons why we need others, and how communities provide for these needs: collective wisdom, pushing our limits, support and belief, new ideas, borrowed motivation and accountability. "When it functions properly a community can be a really powerful way for people to feel accepted and validated."
Coretta Scott King said, "The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members." I wondered what causes a community to be less compassionate, less vibrant, giving less of what Jen Waak says we need in order to develop our genius, or simply to live well.
I read that genius clusters are apt to occur in middle class communities, not from the rich. In these settings, basic needs are met, providing the luxury for idea exchange, learning and the growth of talent, but also reflecting an economic status where there are incentives for learning, self-improvement, and giving to others. The article said that wealthy people often become complacent and arrogant, a poor environment for fueling genius. Somehow, this sounds a warning bell. It demonstrates that a diversity of ideas, experiences and incomes may be necessary ingredients to fuel communities of "possibility."
Community is all about social connections. My wise friend, Stan, says that human development includes physical, mental and social aspects. In working with troubled teens and families, he learned that the social connections are the most essential for building physical and mental development. Stan says, "all the joy we have in life is joy with other people. When we have joy on our own we wish someone was there to share it with."
To expand our community, and reap the benefits, requires that we take initiative to improve the wellbeing of others. The most basic step is being kind to others and building trusting relationships. if we have learned this skill, and apply it to the friendless, then they in turn, may develop renewed strength and motivation to improve their own lives and that of others. This raises everyone's game and creates a summit of greater good, a community.
Perhaps you already live in a joyful, vibrant, diverse and supportive community for every stage of life, or have motivation to make yours better. I would like to hear your views and experiences. You can writeme@deborah-llewellyn.com.
Margaret Mead famously said, "Never doubt the power of an individual to change the world, it is the only thing that ever has." When individual talent and initiative are supported by others who validate and encourage action, then we see the power of community.
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