As I left FSA on Monday evening, I got really excited and giddy inside. A ceramics class had just started, and the Monday Night Quilters were setting up for another festive night of quilting demos and discussions. Our parking lot was full and the participants running a wee bit late were forced to park across the street! The whole place was buzzing. Laughter and hello hugs filled Studio B, and creative minds discussed their ceramics projects in Studio C. With all the new workshops and classes being offered monthly, I can only imagine how lively FSA will be in three months! We are a community! We are a positive, creative, friendly community in the heart of Fallbrook.
It dawned on me that no one inside was lonely. No one was on their phones disengaging from the world. Everyone was present and interacting with people that they regularly interacted with! Once strangers, now friends.
Did you know that loneliness is now an epidemic? One out of two Americans experience loneliness and according to the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, loneliness is now as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and more lethal than consuming six alcoholic drinks a day. Chronic loneliness can lead to higher risks of anxiety, depression, heart disease, dementia, and stroke.
Do you know what the best medicine for combatting loneliness is? Hands down, it’s SOCIALIZING! People who feel a strong sense of community belongingness, like what I described in the first paragraph, are 2.6 times more likely to be in good or excellent health than those with a low sense of community belongingness. “Frequent social interaction helps to minimize the negative effects of stress and inflammation, both of which directly impact our immune systems. And while both the quantity and quality of our social interactions matter for our well-being and happiness, both strong and weak social bonds can help one achieve the associated longevity benefits.” (Excerpt taken from an article from Bluezones.com)
FSA is a wonderful place to get healthy. Creating art is good for your confidence and self-worth. Socializing with people who like the same things that you do is good for your mental and physical health. So, what are you waiting for? Get in here! Meet your new besties while creating art!
Thanks for being part of our community and we’ll see you at school!