What Does Community Mean Today?
As we ease into 2026, and the month of love, I’m moved to ask: what does “community” mean to you?
The word is constantly used today as businesses, schools, and internet programs encourage us to “connect” with them. They also encourage connection with fellow clients and other students via online platforms. These online communities are certainly important, but as we navigate our way through myriad chat groups, online forums, and social media venues, many of us still feel a subtle yearning for real human interaction.
Remembering In-Person Connection
In the world of my parents and their parents, “in-person community” was simply a part of life. A rich tapestry of social clubs, service organizations, local institutions, and dance halls brought people together and nourished a sense of kinship. The passing decades have seen a growth in population and a reduction in these institutions. This has made the logistics of deliberate and meaningful human interaction more challenging.
The Privilege of Human-to-Human Work
I will admit that I’m a fan of social media and online communities, but I also feel blessed to be in a business that requires real human-to-human interaction. It’s stating the obvious to say that the services of a Medical Spa require actual human contact. For me, however, it goes deeper than that.
As many of you know, I also work as an ER physician. When people learn about my two professional roles, they can sometimes be thrust into a moment of cognitive dissonance. How can someone who literally saves lives also want to work in the “superficial” arena of skincare and beauty?
But here’s the thing. The privilege of healing takes many forms.
Creating Safe and Compassionate Spaces
Clients who walk through the doors at Kintsu, regardless of whether they purchase any services, bring something other than an urgent medical issue.
MedSpa clients are contemplating something deeply personal. The work itself is very intimate, which means the space inside must provide a sense of safety and compassion.
I’m proud to say the professional skills that all of my staff demonstrate are of such a high standard that this sense of safety is easily established. They also, however, embody something more. Kindness.
The Quiet Power of Kindness
These days, it’s easy to believe that the virtue of kindness has died right along with the old town dance halls. But it’s still very much alive.
To be kind is to have a certain strength of character and the capacity to give. I’m not talking about anything burdensome. I’m talking about a generosity of spirit. A kind person provides for everyone, not simply personal friends. Something as simple as a genuine, heartwarming smile of encouragement, recognition, or empathy can lift someone’s day. It is a subtle but powerful way to form a sincere connection with another human being, no matter how fleeting.
Gratitude for Community, Near and Far
I believe it is this beautiful sense of connection that creates a genuine community. Even a small community like the staff and clients of a neighborhood MedSpa matters. Every small community lends structure and strength to the greater whole of its surrounding town and city. It’s important, and it’s something I nurture and cherish every single day.
So this month, I would like to thank you all for being a part of my community. You might not have entered my business, but you read my words. Even this simple act creates a connection for which I am grateful. I wish you all a wonderful “month of love” this February.