Tonight was my son's second week of his under 6's soccer competition. The kids are all learning the ropes, and just focusing on the ball is a priority at the moment. But fun times are aplenty, and they all seem to really enjoy giving it a go and have progressed immensely since last week's first round.

One aspect of the competition that I find really fascinating is just how much of a local community event it is. All the U6's and U7's play on a Tuesday night, and there is a fairly large turnout from all the parents and even siblings to support the players. It's interesting to me going through this process as a parent, as opposed to being a player, and it's amazing to realize just how invested parents, families, and community groups are in helping drive health, fun, and enjoyable competition from a young age.

Community and getting involved is an incredibly important aspect in the search for happiness, and statistics have shown that strong community ties and engagement create longevity and greater fulfillment in life. A prime example is the practice of Ikigai and the people of Okinawa, Japan. They are incredibly social, have vast community ties, and this is believed to contribute strongly toward one of the longest life expectancies on the planet.

Personally, I'm an introvert, and the ability to integrate into any social setting is mostly met with reluctance. But the idea of integrating into a full-scale community engagement gives me anxiety. However, as my children grow and the inevitability of these gatherings increases, I will grow. And although this is only the second week of soccer, the connection and integration into this community is both interesting and educational from a societal point of view. It is also a potential growth point for me as a dad, a supporter, and a member of the community.

Within communities and collectively embracing opportunities to help, support, and be a part of something bigger than ourselves is an important part of human nature and a strong contributing factor in our search for happiness.

Thanks,

Dean