This week, I was reminded just how much I want community. Two of my favorite people came over, and we spent hours catching up, no agenda, just vibes. This is how it felt:

But if I’m being honest, I don’t always want to be around people. Sometimes, even making plans with people I love makes me feel anxious. Between having a touch of social anxiety and a deep desire to stay in my shell (just a Cancer crab enjoying her mortgage), I can be a recluse from time to time. And let’s not forget: going outside almost always means spending money.

Reflecting on all of this, I realized I’ve long needed and denied myself solo time. The kind that recharges me. In my twenties, living alone felt like a dream come true after years of sharing rooms and stolen privacy. The pandemic lockdown and even those hazy early postpartum months reminded me of how essential solitude is to me.

Lately though? Midnight laptop sessions don’t count.

Solo time genuinely lifts my mood and energy. It's part of who I am at the core. Now that I’m a mom, navigating the overstimulation of motherhood and the general whirlwind of life, I feel the impact when I go too long without it. I show up differently when I’m depleted.

At the same time, being in community with people fill me up, too. I daydream about hosting game nights, movie nights, finally taking that pottery class, sitting in nature, or doing something quiet and creative on my own that doesn't involve my laptop. I want stillness and novelty. I want community, on my terms, but I know I have to stretch to grow.

And I’m not the only one feeling this. There’s a growing shift back to in-person connection. According to recent research, event planners anticipate even more in-person meetups by this year. (Some other interesting 2025 event stats.)

I started following a few pages that are leaning into this energy:

I also want to check out all the places @nicolasnuvan features on his page. What are the odds that as I typed this, one of his posts popped up on my feed? I receive it, Universe; I see the sign:

I want to do a better job of balancing the solo time that restores me with intentional time spent with others, and in different environments.

These are the questions I’ve been sitting with:

What does community look like when you're up for it? And what does it look like when you're introverted, overstimulated, or just tired? Because lately, it’s felt like an all-or-nothing thing, and I want more in between.

Comment and tell me what community looks like for you these days.

Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter. Your support gives me so much motivation to keep going 🙂 I appreciate you. If you're still hungry for more (literally), I share easy meals, snack ideas, and foodie moments on @vicariousbites. It’s like this newsletter, but with more seasoning. 😉