By Midwife of Changes November 19, 2011 - 8:57pm

Wellness - isn't that about diet and exercise? Yes. But there is more to wellness than health if we extend the definition to include wellbeing.

Some of my favorite resources (including Gallup's book Wellbeing and Blue Zones Thrive) talk about how community connection is imperative to wellbeing. And that makes sense, because to thrive on earth, humans had to learn to band together into communities.

I am reminded of community wellbeing this week because of some postings on Facebook. One in particular caught my eye. I had posted about how, twice in one week, I had cared for women's health clients who I either delivered or who were my previous clients (as a nurse-midwife circa 15-21 yrs ago in my home community).

It happens all the time . . . at the flower shop, at Main in Motion, at community meetings, at the university where I teach . . . I run into people who I delivered or who know people I delivered. It gives me a "Doc Hollywood" feeling inside . . . like I played a role in the wellbeing and advancement of my community.

When I take Gallups Wellbeing Finder - my highest score is always in community. Career, financial, social and health may fluctuate a bit - but community is always strong.

So, my friend on Facebook (who lives across the State) was reading my post about the two clients . . . and the follow-up from a few other people from my community who I also assisted in birth. His words: "Talk about ROOTS in the community. Good grief, you're a freakin JUNIPER."

Connection to community is important. People in New York or Los Angeles may have a hard time imagining small town connectedness, yet they may connect to their communities in other ways; perhaps through work, organizations, family or sports. It is when we feel disconnected that our wellbeing is negatively impacted.

How do you create wellbeing through connection to your community?

Post also on my blog at http://midwifeofchanges.blogspot.com/2011/11/community-wellbeing-coloring-our-roots.html