Connection

I love when words can mean so many different things. The word ‘’connect’’ is one of those words. It feels big. Expansive. Engaging. Meaningful. It means unite, combine, link, join, associate, relate. All are slightly nuanced words from the core word ‘’connect’’. There’s two definitions that are especially applicable to the Yuba Trails Stewardship:

Form a relationship or feel an affinity

Join together so as to provide access

So when I think about the physical attributes of connections, my brain conjures up images of a dirt path carved into the earth. A trail. A structure that joins communities and provides access to places we want to visit. And when I think about the emotional attributes of connections, I think about learning, feeling, and absorbing the messages that other people are offering.

Part of the process of emotional connection is looking people in the eye and listening to their story. Really listening. Not fake listening, but being present and mindful about the experience. The YTS Meet and Greet social event that we just hosted allowed me to connect emotionally with new people and learn about their backgrounds, interests, and goals. It was an opportunity to form a connection with great people who I may not have met otherwise.

I appreciate being part of a movement in Nevada County with the goal of creating safe, sustainable trails for pedestrians that connect our villages to inspiring destinations and experiences. It doesn’t take a lot of people to initiate change. It can just take one person who is passionate enough to deliver a message and connect with like-minded people.

As we develop the Yuba Trails Stewardship, I encourage anyone interested to reach out and connect with us. We share a community with so much potential, and with a little effort, our villages can be the place where people dream of living.