When I moved into my neighborhood four years ago, I barely knew anyone. I spent the first couple months meeting a few couples here and there but I felt that I was going to have to accept the fact that I was not going to have many close friends in my neighborhood. Such is life.

But then I did something that changed my situation. Instead of expecting others to find and befriend me, I reached out to those who were in my position as well to befriend them. My wife and I joined the community welcoming committee. We suddenly had a reason to walk up to anyone and everyone and introduce ourselves. We had people over for meals and tried to make new families feel welcome when they moved in.

This idea is applicable in many contexts. At work, when someone is new, do you go over and introduce yourself? When you’re at a conference and see someone standing on the side, do you go over and say hello? When you’re at a cocktail party, do you introduce yourself to the couple that’s standing in the corner?

I look around my community now and I know every other person that walks by. And while they’re not all my close friends, I know them, they know me, and we, as a collective, are a cohesive community. And I am part of that community because I was proactive and didn’t just sit on the side.

Be the welcoming committee, wherever you are. Soon enough you’ll turn around and not only will you know almost everyone in the room, they’ll know you, and as a collective, you’ll be a community.