The Cost of Community

Summer is pulling me in every direction—sunset hangs, messy group chats, and way too many pasta salads. But somewhere between the chaos and the connection, I remembered: the best things in life take effort... and leave you better than they found you.

July 25, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

☀️ The Summer Spiral (in the Best Way)

 I’ve been on what can only be described as a full-blown seasonal tour of summer.

Sleep schedule? Ruined.
Inbox? Neglected.
Laundry? Let’s not talk about it.

But wow, it’s been fun, exhausting, spontaneous, and silly.

Back-to-back-to-back weddings, sunsets, bonfires, a music festival, impromptu dinners, and a last-minute road trip.

Summer has a way of convincing me to say yes to everything—even when I’m tired and should definitely be working. 

We gather without needing a reason.
We stay out too late.
We lose track of the time. 

That’s summer.

Warm. Full. Bright. Impermanent.

Basically Me Right Now:

💬 The Price of Friendship

 Why this viral tweet hit harder than I expected.

Have you ever found yourself feeling a little annoyed with people you love—and then wondered why?

Maybe someone showed up late. Maybe the group text wouldn’t stop buzzing. Or maybe (like me) you’re a little more introverted, and summer’s “say yes to everything” energy leaves you running on low.

This year, I’ve been moving through a season of beautiful chaos—gatherings, small hangs, and meaningful 1-on-1s. Late nights. Last-minute plans. More “sure, why not” than I thought I had in me.

And honestly? Somewhere between the joy and the exhaustion, I’ve had the privilege of being mildly irritated by the people I care about most.

Fortunately, early in the season, I stumbled on a tweet that completely reframed things for me:

“Being annoyed is the price you pay for community.”

It stuck with me. Hard.
In a wow, I love my community sort of way.

Because it reminded me:

  • Friction doesn’t mean failure—it means closeness.

  • The little annoyances are a natural result of life together.

We live in a world that makes isolation easy.

Alone, we get to control the thermostat, the playlist, the menu. It’s all neat, predictable, and perfectly curated for me.

But the cost of that control is steep: no surprises, no serendipity—and no community.

So yes, friendship can be messy. It will cost you some comfort and convenience. But it pays you back in love, belonging, and the moments that make life worth living.

🔝 Weekly Highlights


🌊 The Healing Power of Blue Spaces
—Turns out, time near lakes and oceans might be the wellness elixir we’ve been searching for.

💬 What It Really Means to Be a Good Friend
—Carolyn Hax delivers a mic-drop moment on friendship’s true essence.

🤝 Volunteering: The Underrated Antidote to Loneliness
—Especially for older adults, giving your time might give you connection, too.

🏊 In Defense of Public Pools
—A joyful ode to shared spaces and splashy solidarity.

🌱 Community Gardens Grow More Than Veggies
—They’re cultivating belonging, connection, and mental health.

🧠 Friendship as a Buffer Against Depression
—This study shows why structured social groups matter more than we think.

❤️ Besties and Your Health: A Meta-Analysis
—Your closest friends might literally be lifesaving.

📈 The ROI on Friendship, According to Mayo Clinic
—Making and keeping friends is hard—but the payoff is huge.🌈 Main Feature

🎵 Vibes to Carry This Energy

  • “August” – Taylor Swift
     (for nostalgia and fleeting connection)

  • “We’re Going to Be Friends” – The White Stripes
     (for imperfect friendship and back-to-school feels)

  • “Tides” – Bonobo
     (for the rhythm of seasons, crashing and retreating)

—

📬 Mental Health Mail
For the ones who’ve learned that showing up for others often teaches you how to show up for yourself.

🧺 P.S. I still haven’t done the laundry. Don’t judge me.