Does Change Make You Feel Anxious?

The Importance of Community

9/18/2025

There’s something powerful about sitting in a room with people who are willing to show up, be open, and grow together. For me, that space has been Coffee with Champions, a weekly gathering through the Troy Chamber that I’ve come to look forward to as one of the best parts of my week.

Each time we meet, there’s a laid-out topic around personal or professional growth but what makes it special isn’t just the subject. It’s the way the conversations unfold with honesty, humor, and zero agenda. We’re not there to sell to each other or check a box. We’re there to connect. To get to know one another in a way that feels organic, real, and human.

That kind of in-person connection is rare these days, and I’ve come to treasure it. It rings truer and goes deeper than any “like” or comment ever could. And in my own life, it’s made all the difference. Members of this group have not only cheered me on in building the Collective, but they also surrounded me with personal support through my recent surgery and recovery. To be seen, cared for, and encouraged like that is something social media can’t replicate.

That’s why I believe so strongly in finding your own version of community. It doesn’t have to look like mine, but I encourage you to seek out spaces where you can engage face-to-face, whether it’s weekly, monthly, or even just once in a while. Because when we gather in person to share, to laugh, to listen we’re reminded that we don’t have to do life alone and it doesn’t have to feel heavy.

https://www.coffeewithchampions.com

This photo was sent to me the day after my surgery with the message “Your friends at Coffee with Champions are thinking of you during your recovery” ❤️