Written By: Kim Murphy, Professional Certified Coach & WPCL Co-President
Friction-Maxxing: The Peace Corps Secret to Building Community?
What if the secret to belonging isn’t making life easier, but showing up, even when it’s inconvenient?
At the virtual All-RPCV Conference on October 24–25, three members of Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL): Kim Murphy, Jody Olsen, and Raisa Alstodt explored a provocative idea: What if one of the most important things we learned in the Peace Corps wasn’t just what we did, but how we learned to belong?
Enter friction-maxxing: intentionally choosing a little effort or inconvenience to create more opportunities for human connection.
Remember those early days of service? The language barriers, unfamiliar food, confusing social norms, and feeling like a stranger in a place you were supposed to call home? We gradually found our footing not through an app or a shortcut, but by showing up. Again and again. At the market, over tea, at a neighbor’s doorstep. We learned to listen, laugh at ourselves, ask for help, and build trust one small interaction at a time.
Here’s the twist: those same opportunities for connection are disappearing from our lives back home. We order online, text instead of call, work remotely, and optimize our schedules for convenience. Nothing wrong with this, but when every interaction becomes faster and easier, we can miss the little moments that make us feel part of something bigger.
So what can RPCVs do? Plenty! Call a friend instead of sending another text. Get to know a neighbor. Join a community group where you don’t already know everyone. Mentor someone younger—or ask someone older to share their story. Volunteer, make introductions, and show up where you’re needed.
And here’s where WPCL’s values come in: community, empowerment, intergenerational connection, and celebration. Strong communities aren’t built by doing things for people; they’re built by listening, connecting, sharing leadership, and creating space for others to contribute.
Our biggest takeaway? We don’t need to recreate Peace Corps life at home or make everything harder just for the sake of it. We need to be intentional about making room for relationships.
Your RPCV challenge: This week, take the less-convenient path to connection. Make the call. Attend the gathering. Ask for help. Invite someone in. Learn somebody’s story.
Because the goal isn’t more friction.
It’s more connection. Stronger communities. And a Peace Corps legacy that keeps growing long after Close of Service.
What small act of connection will you choose this week?