“Community [is] a
potent source of
health and well-being.” 
Vivek Murthy

In his recently published letter, My Parting Prescription for America, outgoing U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy addresses the epidemic of loneliness in the United States. He calls the current situation in our country “a crisis of spirit.”

Murthy urges Americans to work at developing and participating in community, pointing out that “…the loss of community has become one of the defining challenges of our time.”

Why would this be a concern to the Surgeon General? Murthy writes, “The fracturing of community in America is driving a deeper spiritual crisis that threatens our fundamental well-being.”  He points out that “being socially disconnected increases our risk of heart disease, dementia, depression, anxiety, and premature death.”

Murthy introduces the Triad of Fulfillment (relationships, service, purpose), which gives us both meaning and a much-needed sense of belonging. He then contrasts this concept with the socially-accepted Triad of Success (fame, wealth, power), a formula which often fails to bring fulfillment to the individual, resulting in a deterioration of our physical, spiritual, and mental health.

What is your experience of community? Where do you feel a sense of belonging?

I invite and encourage you to check out the Surgeon General’s letter:  https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/my-parting-prescription-for-america.pdf