Enfield Organization Hosts Kick-Off Event Designed to Foster Human Connections

It's so easy to get caught up in our own little bubble and focus on our families, our appointments, and our responsibilities, that we barely notice the world happening around us.

Today, I had an opportunity to attend Enfield Connects' kick-off event, a town wide campaign designed to foster connection.

The discussion focused on the simple, yet meaningful connections that come from saying hello to a stranger, asking how someone's day is going, holding a door for someone, or reaching out to an old friend you haven't spoken to in years. Speakers spoke of their personal experiences and how these connections helped them through various, sometimes difficult situations.

One of the most shocking pieces of information I heard today was from keynote speaker Deb Bibbins, founder of For All Ages, a Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness, that currently the loneliest population is people aged 18-22, not at all what I would have guessed. She did mention there are detrimental effects (cognitively) when it comes to the elderly population and loneliness.

The event was really insightful and a good refresher when it comes to how these connections we create help us to feel a part of something bigger. I'm proud of the work Enfield is doing in leading the charge to address loneliness and fostering community connections.