Social connection and strong community bonds bring innumerable benefits both on a personal and societal level. Studies have shown that on a personal level, social connections not only bring the joy of knowing and being known, but they can also boost your health and wellbeing across your entire lifespan.
On a wider societal level, having strong communal bonds has been shown to lead to safer, healthier, and more resilient communities.
These are two topics that we care about here at the Canton Public Library as we strive to build up our community. It might be fair to ask though, how to best go about this work of building up social connections and strong communal bonds? We have you covered—learn more below to spark your imagination, get connected, and build up your relationships.
Shift of Mindset
For some people, what is needed before pursuing greater social connection and becoming more involved in communal activities is a deeper shift in mindset towards relating to the world. We recommend listening to one of these optimistic audiobooks to be reminded of the transformative power of friendship and how to resist succumbing to cynicism.
Friendship
One of the most effective and transformative ways to build social connections is by fostering strong friendships. Our booklist celebrating International Friendship Day in particular has great books for folks of all ages to think about the importance of friendship.
We also recognize that friendship does come with its own set of challenges, though. Which is precisely why we recommend checking out these books about having hard conversations to equip you to navigate them with wisdom, patience and skill.
Community Events
There are always things happening in the Canton and the Plymouth area. Canton Township's website features a calendar page of community and special events that is always worth referencing.
The Summit on the Park is a wonderful community space here in Canton that offers a wide variety of activities. They have an aquatic center, a fitness center, different health and wellness services, and a gymnasium. Many of those different areas at the Summit have their own individual classes as well, so there are a lot of ways to both get involved and keep your body in good shape.
Also, if you are an adult aged 55 or over and you’re looking for greater social connection, they have a wonderful group that meets at the Club 55+ Senior Center in the Summit. The group engages in a wide range of activities throughout the year.
Downtown Plymouth also has a wonderful range of events, places to meet, and activities throughout the year.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a wonderful way to get involved, meet new people, and make a difference all in one. Here at the library, we have compiled a blog listing a variety of volunteer opportunities in our surrounding area. If you wanted to further pursue something specific here in Canton, Canton Leisure Services has a list of opportunities to pursue.
For folks who deeply love and care about gardening and the environment, we recommend checking out Creating Habitats for Pollinators, Plymouth Pollinators, and Friends of the Rouge. All of them do great work here locally and are wonderful ways to meet like-minded individuals.
Another great way to get involved is by helping with the several food assistance programs that we have in the area. Get involved or take advantage of the food assistance they provide if you could use some help yourself.
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