Everyone knows "it takes a village to raise a child", and everyone wants a village, the elusive group of people who show up, support, and make life less lonely and more fun. But here's the catch: someone's gotta start, and it's probably you.

Be the one who sends the invite, checks in, remembers birthdays, offers help, shows up, even when it's inconvenient. Most people are hoping someone else will make the first move. This is true for many aspects of life. I can't count the amount of times people at my different workplaces have said something along the lines of, "why does noone in the company [insert virtuous behaviour]?", only for things to continue working exactly as they previously did until someone stepped up and acted in the common interest. By complaining about things and not working on improving the situation, you're contributing to the status quo. Along with it, there is often a spirit of defeatism along the lines of, "I can't change that", "I don't have time for that", and so on.

When one person steps up, it shows everyone else that it's possible, and the positive feedback lets others know that their initiative will be rewarded. But in the end, you gotta show up and move differently. It's not always glamorous, and many times you'll give more than you get. But your actions set the tone, and over time, others follow. That’s how a real community forms: not by waiting, but by doing. The village doesn't exist until you create it. If you want a village, be the one who starts acting like a neighbor.