Welcome Back to the Question of the Week!

Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing well and staying positive!

It's been far too long since we've gathered for our Question of the Week, and honestly—I’ve missed this. Life has a way of taking us on unexpected journeys, doesn’t it? Sometimes, we need to step back, breathe deeply, and reconnect with what truly matters. And what matters most is community—the connections that hold us together and help us grow.

Reflecting on Community

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on what brought us all here to begin with. Sure, we’re passionate about sustainability, living in harmony with nature, and creating positive change in our world. But underneath all of that, what really binds us together is something deeper—it’s the sense of belonging, the feeling that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.

So, it feels right that as we restart our QOTW journey together, we’re beginning with this fundamental question:

"What does community mean to you?"

This might seem like a simple question at first glance, but the more I sit with it, the more layers I discover. Is community just the people who share our interests? Is it about geographical proximity? Or is it something that transcends physical boundaries and connects us on a deeper level?

My Take on Community

For me, community is this fascinating paradox—it’s both the safe harbor where we can be completely ourselves and the launching pad that challenges us to become who we’re meant to be. It’s where we find support when we stumble and the courage to keep growing. It’s where our individual lights come together to create something brighter than any of us could shine alone.

I think about our ecotrain community, and I see how we’ve created a space where people can share their struggles and find understanding. It’s a place where someone can ask deep questions and know they’ll get thoughtful responses, where practical wisdom about sustainable living flows alongside philosophical insights about life.

Your Turn: What Does Community Mean to You?

I’m curious about your perspective! What does community mean in your life? Maybe you’ve found community in unexpected places—online connections that feel more real than your neighbors or a group of strangers who became your chosen family. Maybe community for you is about shared values, shared struggles, or shared dreams.

• Have you ever experienced that moment when you realized you belonged somewhere?
• Or maybe you’re still searching for your tribe?
• What makes a community feel truly supportive versus just a collection of people in the same space?
• In our increasingly digital world, how do we create genuine community connections? How do we move beyond surface-level interactions to build something that nourishes us?

How to Join the Conversation

Write your own post sharing your thoughts on "What does community mean to you?" and let’s explore this together!

Posting Guidelines

• Subscribe to the @ecotrain community to post (if you haven’t already!)
• Use the tags qotw and ecotrain when you post
• Aim for a minimum of 600 words for upvotes (though you’re welcome to write as much as you want!)
• Share the link to your post in the comments below so we can all find and read each other’s perspectives
• You have until Friday August 8th to post your response

Your answer can be a written post, a video, artwork, poetry—however you want to express yourself! We welcome all voices and all perspectives.

What’s Next?

I’ll be reading every response and will create a tie-up post next week highlighting the insights our community shares. There’s nothing I love more than seeing how our individual experiences weave together to create a deeper understanding.

So here we are, restarting the Question of the Week! Let’s rediscover together what makes community meaningful, and let’s continue building the kind of conversations that matter.

Looking forward to your thoughts,
@eco-alex 🚂💚

What are you waiting for? The train is leaving the station, and we’d love to have you aboard! Share your thoughts about community, and let’s get this conversation rolling!