A few months ago, back in the summer, I saw a movement growing that started over on Natalie Franke's blog. It's a movement that's been stirring in the hearts of so many creatives, but one that lacked a uniting voice until that time. It's not a new idea - that together two are stronger than one - but it's an idea that needed room to grow and flourish.
Enter The Rising Tide Society. When it first began, I didn't know fully what it was but I did know that I wanted to get on board! I applied to be a leader, not knowing what all that entailed, and was accepted within a few days. That was before the huge onslaught of applications that happened - I was thankful to be on the front end!
With that, the Peninsula group of Hampton Roads was formed. We first met on May 5 and have continued to grow, change, and shift ever since. We meet on the second Tuesday of each month to learn together, build relationships, and re-affirm that community will always trump competition.
I'm writing this blog out of a heart of amazement that I get to be just a small part of this movement. I had no pre-qualifications for being chosen as a leader, and I jumped in headfirst only because I so strongly believed in the heart behind The Rising Tide Society. What has come out of this leap of faith has been incredible.
Our little group of entrepreneurs is more than that. We encourage each other, cheer each other on, and support each other's businesses. When we get together we laugh about the crazy things that happen to us as small business owners and work through things that we struggle with. At the last meeting we had on Tuesday, only a few months in, I saw an even more beautiful thing happening - friendships are forming that never would have been. People know each other beyond seeing social media posts or blogs. This little group of creatives who had no place to ban together just a few months ago has become a community.
I am grateful. Grateful for the heart behind it all. Grateful that I get to be called a leader, when truly the ones who are leading are those who show up each and every month to build up one another. I am grateful to witness a vibrant, growing community that could treat each other with contempt and jealousy, but instead treats each other with grace and acceptance. I love this group, and I can only imagine all the places we will go - not just individually, but together.
If you are in the Hampton Roads area, click here to join our group! If you are somewhere else, click here to find a group to join.
