Unless you’re born and raised in Las Vegas, or at least spent the majority of your childhood here, adjusting to the random collection of people, subcultures, and ex-patriots of states across the nation isn’t easy. I moved here 17 years ago which, by Vegas standards, is a pretty good span of time but, sadly, I still don’t know the majority of my neighbors’ names, and I continue to feel somewhat disconnected from the sub-community in which I’ve lived the entire time I’ve been here. I have had clients who’ve been here for longer time periods than me as well as those relatively new to the area, and the majority of them ask the same question – why is it so hard to meet people in Las Vegas??
One answer to this question is that there is a lack of community that we’ve had here which exists due to several barriers. A community is a “social unit (or group of living things) that share something in common, such as customs, identifying characteristics, values, beliefs, or norms”, according to an article by Nicole Celestine, Ph.D. Barrier #1 – in the melting pot that is Las Vegas, how do we gain a sense of community where there is a plethora of different interests, customs, values, beliefs, and norms that intersect?
Another barrier to gaining a sense of community in Las Vegas is the never-ending options of [you name it] that we have on a daily basis. I refer to Las Vegas as “Shiny Objectville”, in other words, there’s always something to do to distract ourselves from the simple pleasures in life such as a sense of community and quality friendships, and intimate relationships. With all of the stimulation we come across on a daily basis (you can’t even drive on the freeway without shiny, flashing signs for strip clubs and cirque du soleil shows), how do we feel content at just being present in each moment when there is always something to engage in that in any other typical city would be over the top?
Another challenge is the fact that since Vegas has no shortage of convenient shopping centers, grocery stores, entertainment venues, activities, and casinos in each little pocket of town we may reside. Because of these conveniences, we tend to stick to our pockets and not venture out much (save sporting events or concerts where the noise and stimulation factors already prohibit us from engaging with others in large part). While having children offers an outlet for parents to form connections with others through school and sporting events, it’s not a given that engagement with these groups or people is the yin to our yangs.
My work with clients, coupled with my general observations after living in Las Vegas, has sparked my interest in focusing this month’s blog topics on helping Las Vegans learn how to make more meaningful connections within their communities – either in their personal ‘pockets’ or the community at large. I’m going to be exploring a variety of ways in which we can all find the groups and people that we most relate to so that each of us feels more connected, integrated, and content in our respective communities.
The idea is to help engender a sense of positive community which allows individuals to feel more connected to their environment and the people in it. There are several benefits to having a sense of positive community. The connection that comes with being in a community can act as a support system for members when they require encouragement or help, and studies have shown that feeling a sense of positive community can lower depression, engagement in substance abuse, and reduce conflict in the community.
Throughout the next three weeks, I’ll be outlining what drives us to our desired community types, suggestions on what those types may look like, different ways that we can connect with groups and others in our communities, and examples of specific types of groups and community events that are available to us throughout the Las Vegas Valley. If any of you have met this challenge and found ways to conquer these barriers, thereby joining a group or cause or simply found ways to make meaningful connections with others, please feel free to forward them to jessicahass@theravadawellness.net, and I’d be happy to include them in my blog.
With the immense growth Las Vegas has experienced over the course of the last 20+ years, it’s time for new and new-ish residents to start to feel that Las Vegas is not only one of the most entertaining cities to live in but also one that provides what any moderate-sized American city would – a safe, friendly, meaningful place to call home.