“Everyone wants a village, but no one wants to be a villager.”
I saw an instagram post a few weeks ago that said “everyone wants a village but no one wants to be a villager” and it really struck a chord with me.
Clearly, since I’m still thinking about it weeks later and am now going so far as to write up a blog post about it!
As I have made my transition from full-time people management in a large company, to focusing on my own small business and community engagement, I’m seeing this play out in real time. Everyone says they want connection, belonging, community. But when it comes to the actual work of being in community, i.e. showing up, following through, giving without the promise of getting, a lot of people disappear.
It’s made me reflect on what being a ‘villager’ really means.
To me, it means checking in even when you’re busy. It means offering help without waiting to be asked. It means showing up to your friend’s class, event, or soft launch. It means caring about people when there’s nothing shiny or convenient about it. It means giving without the expectation that you will get anything back.
It means that when one of us wins, we all win.
In the corporate world, we talk a lot about culture, collaboration, and inclusion. But outside of those structured walls, there is no handbook and no one holding you accountable to those values. It’s up to you to hold yourself accountable to those values.
If you want a village, first ask yourself: How are you being a good villager?
If you can’t answer that question you have some work to do.
