With the intention of bringing the community together to connect, learn and grow, the Best Life Network has started a monthly gathering called Connected Conversations at Books & Co.
The first meeting held Wednesday saw almost 50 people attend the inspiration-themed event, said organizer Christina Bianchini, a registered professional counselor and Best Life Network creator.
"I don't believe people spend a lot of time connecting any more," said Bianchini.
"So I wanted to do that so we could talk about important things and connect."
There were five speakers, including counsellors and life coaches, that talked about inspiration.
"And how often our trials and tribulations and our deepest pain and our darkest moments inspire us to grow and do differently," said Bianchini, who moved to Prince George about a year ago from the lower mainland.
Then the audience was offered about a half hour to have their own conversations and because it was unstructured people gathered in groups of three to five to chat about their own sources of inspiration, she added.
"We gave some hot tips on how to have a great conversation and how to be present and how to ask great questions," said Bianchini about the event that saw about 15 per cent of the crowd being male.
There was also a list of conversation starters to help or people could just wing it, too.
Once the guests chatted there was a big group Q&A about how the conversations went.
"How we ended it off was I introduced a book that is related to that topic so that we can have a Facebook book club to continue the conversation," said Bianchini.
The book club will continue until the next event scheduled for June 8 at Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave., and then there will be a book connected to that topic of discussion which is redefining success.
"It will be about the myth of work/life balance, how to overcome being busy all the time and how to truly find happiness and joy in the present moment," said Bianchini.
"I think that people have wanted a way to connect and talk about important things and so I think Connected Conversations really gives people the avenue to do that."
For more information visit the Connected Conversations page on Facebook at pgc.cc/1VV6LSq or the Best Life Network page on Facebook at: pgc.cc/1qh8a7X
