What does a baseball game have to do with human connection?
Recently I took my husband on a date to the local ballgame for our Missoula Paddleheads.
Pleasant evening, clear skies, happy people, community.
As I sat in my seat, shelling peanuts I realized: this is human connection.
It was an environment ripe for human connection ~
Inspired by the game, here are 9 ways to connect in your community.
1. Seek out & attend a local sporting event. The people who make these endeavors go know they are a LOT of work – no joke. The entire ecosystem is boosted when you attend, helping them stay viable.
2. When you’re at the event, walk around. Get up and move, stroll the stadium, the side areas, the entire space. See what you can see.
3. Say hello, smile, greet every body you encounter. ESPECIALLY the worker bees selling food, drinks, merch; security and ticket takers too. They’re all members of your community as well.
4. Buy something. We went knowing (okay, I knew since I lined up the date!) that we’d be eating at the game. Support the vendor partners who are also part of the entire experience. And I do love a good hot dog.
5. Say thank you to everyone who helps you – ticket scanners, food & bev folks, security, helpers. Gratitude is bedrock to connection.
6. Bike, walk, scooter, skateboard, take the bus. Transportation in open air + public transport = human encounters. And they help us refresh our brains with fresh air in the doing.
7. Cheer! In years past, I’ve been a (hockey) cheerleader, a bleacher spectator cheering loudly, and have even sung the national anthems. Cheering literally vocalizes your support. It’s great to “clean out the carbon” too! Make sure your cheering is respectful – you can have fun, be creative, and not be cruel.
8. As you walk in, walk around, walk out intentionally give someone else a compliment. The game we attended was affiliated with Pride week here in Missoula and I saw a bunch of brightly colored clothing. One person was wearing a shirt which prompted me to ask them where they got it – which is another version of a compliment.
9. Participate in the goofy activities that happen during the in-between times. The person in charge of the constant flow of inning-break activities, and microphone to get and keep people activity involved is working hard! Help them by participation – cheer when they start a chant, clap at the end of a silly game, sing and dance along to the music.
Connection = community participation
If you’re feeling lonely, get in the game.
And maybe buy a hot dog too.
