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Janet’s story: “Finding a like-minded community to belong to.”

Janet moved to East Auckland 13 years ago and worked until she retired. With a full-time job and a long commute she had little time to establish a friend network outside of her family. “I really missed my old group of friends when I first moved to Auckland,” she says. “My job was so busy that social opportunities were limited. My spare time was devoted to family and the usual weekend chores.”

“We all have different needs at different times, so the fact that you can pick and choose the activities that best meet your needs – or go to everything if you wish – is a real bonus.”

Like many people, when Janet retired, she had “a big empty space to fill”. She knew it was time to introduce new activities into her life and make new friends or she would be very lonely. She started with the Howick Information Centre. “The lovely lady there said she belonged to the local Probus Club, and she would meet me there the following week if I was interested.”

I joined Probus and not long after started to follow Virtual Village East on Facebook. “As it happens one of the Probus members attends VVE and said he was enjoying the cooking lessons which piqued my interest,” she says. “It took me a while to summon up the courage to attend an event, but when I saw the physical wellbeing seminar promoted, I thought ‘now’s the time’ as I have been dealing with some health issues.”

Janet said she couldn’t have been made to feel more welcome. “I had such a warm welcome and was immediately introduced to some members who took me under their wing.”  Janet thoroughly enjoyed the seminar and learnt several new things to try to enhance her physical health. However, what she discovered and loves the most about the Virtual Village is the focus on total wellbeing. “No one else is offering activities that on such a holistic level. We all have different needs at different times, so the fact that you can pick and choose the activities that best meet your needs – or go to everything if you wish – is a real bonus.”

As well as meeting some lovely new people at the seminar, Janet has enjoyed receiving the weekly newsletter sent to members on a Sunday. “I love the self-care tips and I have added these to my calendar. The other articles are very interesting and thought-provoking.”

Since attending the seminar, Janet has signed up for Virtual Village East’s Safe & Strong exercise programme. She says she’s delighted to have found such a wonderful community of seniors with whom she can enjoy companionship, friendship, fitness, and fun.

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