Introduction
Having access to care, being able to limit stress, and having a stable enough income to afford necessities are luxuries not everyone in the United States can obtain. Those who are without are disadvantaged in some social way. Social disadvantages are not just about one’s identity as a minority, but also are concerned with wealth, socio-economic status, and where one lives. For many, these are factors that limit their ability to live a healthy life, physically or mentally. Observing how different your own community is from others you visit is a way to become aware of how health disparities truly effect the way some people live. Many times, we neglect to take a thorough look around us to see differences in where we live compared to other communities. Taking note of these distinctions, and being able to identify these changes is a …show more content…
What makes up a community, its formation and its maintenance, can vary. Whether working in the same building, having the same ethnicity, or sharing the same stressors all which affect ones well-being is the foundation of a community (Adelman et al. 2008). To me, a community is a group of people, with similar interests, who are able to assist and reach out to each other in times of struggle. Within my community, I am able to feel comfortable leaving my home, knowing the majority of the people that live around me know me or my family personally. Just this small comfort alone positively impacts my health. I was able to go for a run every day after high school, and see friends along the way. I am within walking distance of a park with bike trails, walking paths, a hockey rink and basketball courts. I have the access and ability to perform healthy activities with ease throughout the