Written by Remarkable Disability Services Co-Founder, Sam Sehter, M.Ed.

 

The New York City Marathon took place this past weekend, and while I can confidently say you’ll never catch me running 26.2 miles, there’s something about it that always makes me emotional. Strangers cheering on strangers with motivational signs, runners helping carry one another across the finish line, people running for charity, for loved ones, or to prove something to themselves. It’s impossible not to be moved by it. I found myself sobbing at these beautiful examples of pure humanity and just how wonderful people can be.

 

But then, last night, I found myself getting teary-eyed watching Dancing with the Stars. (Yes, apparently celebrities doing the cha-cha in sequins can make me cry, too). But it wasn’t really about the dancing. It was watching everyone celebrate each other’s high scores, hype up their teammates, dance together on a team, and cheer each other on both in the ballroom and then later on that night on social media.

 

And that’s when it hit me. Two completely different events had filled me with the same overwhelming sense of joy. And they both had one thing in common: community. So naturally, I felt compelled to write about it.

 

Since the beginning of time, humans have depended on community to survive. They shared resources, protected one another, and built lives together. Thousands of years later, we have smartphones, social media, and the ability to connect with anyone, anywhere, yet somehow, loneliness is still everywhere.

 

I’ve always found that when life gets difficult, when I’m sad, overwhelmed, or feeling disconnected, finding community is what brings me back. Community hasn’t always fixed my problems, but it’s given me the strength to face them. Sometimes it’s helped me thrive. Other times, it’s simply helped me to just survive. When I moved to New York City a few years ago, I was desperately searching for a sense of community. I had left behind the life I knew and the people I loved, and in many ways, I was starting over. So, I turned to something that had always brought me joy (and if you know me, you know that’s Broadway). Before long, I found my people. Some of my closest friends and the most important people in my life today are people I met simply by connecting over something we loved. Whether it was striking up a conversation while waiting in line for a show, attending a panel at a Broadway convention, or showing up to a meetup for Broadway fans, these seemingly small moments of connection turned into friendships that have become such a meaningful part of my life.

 

What I love about community is that it doesn’t have to look any one way. Community is about being noticed when you show up, missed when you don’t, and accepted exactly as you are. Feeling like you are part of something. Like you belong.

 

When we started Remarkable six years ago, we wanted to create opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to connect, learn, and grow. But it has become so much more than just a calendar of classes. Remarkable has quite literally become a community. It created friendships across state lines and even countries, inside jokes, celebrating each other’s victories, and noticing when someone could use a pick-me-up. It’s watching someone find the confidence to speak up because they know they’re surrounded by people who care and who will listen.

 

For some of our members, Remarkable is one of many communities they belong to. For others, it’s one of, or the only consistent opportunity for friendship and connection. And for some, it’s a lifeline.

 

But here’s the thing about community. It works both ways. I’ve been sick this week and have barely had a voice. And without missing a beat, my Remarkable community showed up for me. They volunteered to read things aloud, sent messages checking in, and even wrote me songs to cheer me up. The very people I hope to support every day were supporting me right back. And that meant more than they probably realize. We all need people to lean on, laugh with, celebrate with, and occasionally help us get through a Tuesday when we can’t speak above a whisper.

 

If you haven’t found your people yet, please keep looking. Think about who you are, what makes you happy, and what brings you joy. Then find the people who share those passions. There’s a community for just about everything. Join the group. Take the class. Start the conversation. Put yourself out there, even when it feels uncomfortable, scary or new. Community has the power to lift us up, support us through difficult times, and even help us heal. We all deserve to feel like we belong somewhere. Sometimes, it just takes a little time to find where that somewhere is. I’m grateful every single day for the community we’ve built at Remarkable. And if you know a young adult who is still searching for their people, we would be honored to welcome them into our Remarkable community.