May is Older Americans Month. This year’s theme, "Powered by Connection" focuses on the profound impact that meaningful connections have on the well-being and health of older adults. Each week this month, members and volunteers share how their involvement with NNV has powered connections for them.

-----

You Don’t Have to Walk Alone
By Sal Selvaggio

There is, unfortunately, a recurring theme describing the status of individuals in our American society - our isolation.

Our separation from our community that we experience as we retreat into the world of screens, limitless electronic entertainment, single issue Facebook chats and the false sense of belonging these activities can provide.

Robert Putnam, in his book “Bowling Alone”, described how we have gradually disengaged from the groups and activities that foster actual social interactions, and the downstream effects this has had on our political system, and our society in general. The underlying reasons for this toxic situation are many, but one antidote is to return to activities that promote actual human engagement.

One of the most important reasons that Northwest Neighbors Village exists is to promote community through activities that create opportunities for such interpersonal engagement. Our weekly exercise walks are just one example of this.

NNV’s hour-long walks take place on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. at one of two alternating locations. Volunteer walk leaders show the way through a local neighborhood or Rock Creek Park, depending on the walk destination of the day. The Albemarle walk begins on the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Albemarle with a path that meanders through the neighborhood’s side streets. Our Rock Creek walk takes advantage of the close proximity to this natural resource we enjoy. Our strolls are at a pace that makes sense for our participants.

The conversations that happen during our walks are varied, random, and often punctuated by laughter. On one recent outing, a fellow walker told me he was a short story writer, but was hesitant to let others read them. I encouraged him to send them on to me.

They are wonderful.

The ability to get to know another person and trust them is the necessary glue that binds societies together.

There are so many forces acting to separate us and focus on our differences. The communities that the Village movement builds provides the opportunities for engagement that nurture our human connections and commonalities.

We invite you to have NNV be one way to help you connect with others.

You don’t have to walk alone.

-----

NNV walks are every Friday at 10 am. They alternate between two meeting places – The corner of Albemarle St & Connecticut Ave for a mostly flat neighborhood walk and Picnic Area #6 in Rock Creek Park for a park walk with some slight inclines. See our events calendar here to join the next one!