Community is good for the body and soul
I love community. I just love people in general really. But what makes community so great is abiding in a place where not only you are with people you enjoy being around but who know you. Not just details about your life or what you do for a living, but who you are. I think this is hugely important to us as human beings. To be known. I am someone who puts a lot of intentional effort into maintaining lasting friendships. In fact my best friend and I met in kindergarden and we just ran a Warrior Dash together last weekend (25 years later). As an only child he's the closest thing I have to a brother and I am honored by his lasting friendship.
Being with people by whom we are known not only makes us happier but also nourishes our bodies. Referred to as the Roseto effect and cited in Maclolm Gladwell's book Outliers, good company has a direct and real impact on our health. I think this is what makes television so dangerous. I read recently that the average American spends four hours a day watching television. Seriously?! Four hours? How does a working individual find four hours to squander on television every day? Unfortunately, that four hours a day is time not spent engaging the people we care about who literally enrich our life and health.
I have much more to say on this but I'll save it for later. In the meantime, turn of the tube, call up a friend and go live your life instead of watching someone else live theirs.