We Digress

In this episode of We Digress, we continue our conversation about the role of community in crisis, particularly addiction recovery. Two major barriers to relationships within our community are independence and isolation.  Independence In American culture, we value our independence. The United States was basically founded on "I have a better idea, why don't I just leave and do what I want?" Well, sort of.  Pilgrims and pioneers brought their community with them. They tended to fare better when they lived close to each other.  Modern inventions allow us to be more independent. Most of us women don't all gather at the river to wash our clothes and chat. And though I believe a good old-fashioned barn raising is always a good idea (I've never been to one, but the one I dream of also has a picnic basket auction...) We Digress, but the point is, we have to overcome our independence to connect with other people. Isolation Sometimes, we pull away from our community before we hit a crisis point.