Resilience through Connection and Community
I recently had one of my dearest friends visit for the weekend. It wasn’t until she left that I realized just how much I had missed that deep connection with a friend. While it was sad to say goodbye, I was also filled with a sense of peace and gratitude. That visit reminded me how vital meaningful relationships are to our health, wellbeing, and especially to our resilience.
Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back from hard times – it’s about having emotional strength and support systems in place to navigate life’s ups and downs. One of the most powerful ways we build resilience is through connection. When life gets overwhelming and we feel pulled in too many directions, it can be easy to let personal connections slide. But staying connected—to friends, loved ones, and community—can be a lifeline. These relationships offer us perspective, comfort, encouragement, and sometimes just the simple reminder that we’re not alone.
If you’re looking to strengthen your own resilience through connection and community, we have several upcoming opportunities for you to do just that at Gilda’s Club! For those who can join us in person, we offer supportive and welcoming programming including yoga classes, Art with Heart, our open art studio social, cribbage nights, Dudes and Donuts, and more. These gatherings are not just fun activities, they’re safe spaces to be seen, heard, and supported.
For those who prefer virtual engagement, we have wonderful options like Knit Wits, a virtual knitting group, a morning Qi Gong class, and Coffee Talk. Each of these programs encourages connection, creativity, and personal growth—all essential ingredients for building resilience.
All our classes are open to anyone impacted by cancer—whether you’re living with it, supporting someone who is, or grieving the loss of a loved one. In the short time I’ve been involved with Gilda’s Club, I’ve had the privilege of attending multiple classes. The warmth and inclusiveness of the community has been remarkable. Each session has helped me develop the resilience to face life’s challenges with more strength and grace. I hope you’ll join us and discover how powerful it can be to build resilience through community!
We’re excited to have several new offerings on our summer program calendar! Here are just a few of our new additions:
- Cribbage Club – In-person with Deb Fjeld and Cyndi Graham
- 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesday of July from 5:00 – 6:00 pm
- Join the GCMN Cribbage Club for fun and friendly competition every other Thursday!
- Meditation: Feeling Whole – In person with Ben Hoff
- Thursdays from 5:00 – 6:30 pm
- Work through meditation exercises to cultivate peace and wholeness, offered in two six-class series.
- Qi Gong – Online with Susan Flannigan
- Wednesdays from 9:00 – 9:30 am
- Start your morning with gentle mindful movement in this weekly drop-in Qi Gong session.
- Yin Yoga – In person with Frank Diaz
- Thursdays from 10:00 – 11:00 am
- Take part in a grounding, introspective yoga practice and find stillness, reflection, and deep release.
Sign up for these upcoming program offerings on our virtual program offerings page and in-person program offerings page, in your class registration account, or call us at 612-227-2147.
With peace and gratitude,
Bridget Eickhoff, MA, LPCC
Program Director
612-227-2147 office | 952-767-7625 direct
10560 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55305
