I’m not interested in simply watching what happens in 2019. I want to play an active part in shaping the story.
I believe that the act of gathering can address many of the world’s problems, so that’s one area I’m going to be focusing on for the near future.
Here’s why.
I believe that the act of gathering can address many of the world’s problems, so that’s one area I’m going to be focusing on for the near future.
Here’s why.
Suicide rates are up.
cdc.gov/media/releases…
cdc.gov/media/releases…
People are addicted to painkillers.
medicalxpress.com/news/2018-12-o…
medicalxpress.com/news/2018-12-o…
People are paralyzed by digital distractions.
businessinsider.com/tech-addition-…
businessinsider.com/tech-addition-…
Religious affiliation is down.
pewforum.org/2018/06/13/you…
pewforum.org/2018/06/13/you…
Debates about politics… immigration… who deserves health care… all of these things come back to some similar core cultural themes:
Separation. Isolation. Otherness.
Separation. Isolation. Otherness.
To feel a sense of belonging is absolutely necessary to every human.
It’s encoded in our tribal nature: if your ancestor got kicked out of their tribe, they would die.
We’re literally not built to survive on our own.
It’s encoded in our tribal nature: if your ancestor got kicked out of their tribe, they would die.
We’re literally not built to survive on our own.
So we go to great lengths to seek belonging.
This is why we (myself included) tried so hard to be “cool” and feel accepted in grade school, and why it hurt so much when many of us didn’t.
This is why we (myself included) tried so hard to be “cool” and feel accepted in grade school, and why it hurt so much when many of us didn’t.
What happens when more of us start to feel that belonging we’ve been aching for?
What happens when more of us have someone we know will pick up the phone if we call?
What happens when more of us have someone we know will pick up the phone if we call?
What happens when more of us feel seen, understood, valued, cared about, depended upon?
What happens when more of us dance together? Play together? Cry together? Brainstorm together? Cook together?
Good things. Good things is what happens.
What happens when more of us dance together? Play together? Cry together? Brainstorm together? Cook together?
Good things. Good things is what happens.
At least, good things can happen. It’s not automatic.
In fact, if people fail to find healthy communities, there's a good chance they will unconsciously end up in destructive ones.
In fact, if people fail to find healthy communities, there's a good chance they will unconsciously end up in destructive ones.
Members of ISIS and the KKK have a strong feeling of belonging.
Which is why it’s incumbent upon us to find our own healthy form of belonging, and wherever possible to extend that to others.
Which is why it’s incumbent upon us to find our own healthy form of belonging, and wherever possible to extend that to others.
The more we can belong to ourselves, to each other, and to this whole world, the better things will get.
2019 is going to be a historically insane year. It will be hard for many of us to pay attention to anything else at times.
Which is why it’s so important to me that we resolve to direct our attention toward growing culture to eventually overtake the madness we are seeing.
Which is why it’s so important to me that we resolve to direct our attention toward growing culture to eventually overtake the madness we are seeing.
We got to where we are today, the good and the bad, because of culture. The culture we’ve perpetuated and allowed to take hold.
We’ll get to where we’re going next by working to perpetuate better cultures.
We’ll get to where we’re going next by working to perpetuate better cultures.
That’s where gatherings come in.
When we gather, we generate culture.
If someone pours your cup of tea for you, you get it right away—it’s a nice gesture someone does for a guest or a friend. You might feel inclined to pour tea for someone else at your next opportunity.
When we gather, we generate culture.
If someone pours your cup of tea for you, you get it right away—it’s a nice gesture someone does for a guest or a friend. You might feel inclined to pour tea for someone else at your next opportunity.
Gathering also eradicates loneliness.
One can still feel lonely in a social setting—sometimes it even gets worse—but when it’s done right, people feel at home.
One can still feel lonely in a social setting—sometimes it even gets worse—but when it’s done right, people feel at home.
The best part?
Gathering is incredibly easy to do.
All you need is:
1. A venue (even a virtual one)
2. Another person
3. A date and time
4. An intention
Gathering is incredibly easy to do.
All you need is:
1. A venue (even a virtual one)
2. Another person
3. A date and time
4. An intention
“Hey Kelsey! Want to meet tomorrow at Silvana at 2:00pm to talk about our plans for the year? Bring a friend if you want!“
A few sentences.
Movements start this way. I’ve seen it happen.
A few sentences.
Movements start this way. I’ve seen it happen.
It just so happens that there has been an absolute explosion of people trying out all sorts of new forms of gathering—in particular here in NY.
Peruse @thatjillian's joylist.nyc. Look at @sofarsounds @dybrkr @cave_day @caveatnyc @labshul @5rhythms @TalkBigNotSmall.
Peruse @thatjillian's joylist.nyc. Look at @sofarsounds @dybrkr @cave_day @caveatnyc @labshul @5rhythms @TalkBigNotSmall.
I’m setting out to learn more about what these folks are up to and share it with others.
I’m going to conduct some experiments of my own.
And I’m going to work to incite you to gather and be gathered.
I’m going to conduct some experiments of my own.
And I’m going to work to incite you to gather and be gathered.
So less people burn precious years scrolling on screens.
So less people feel the need to take pain killers.
So less people take their own lives.
So less people recede into hatred.
So less people hurt.
So less people feel the need to take pain killers.
So less people take their own lives.
So less people recede into hatred.
So less people hurt.
So more people dance.
So more people find love.
So more people have fun.
So more people help each other.
So more people clean up the streets.
So more people find their creative voices.
So more people find love.
So more people have fun.
So more people help each other.
So more people clean up the streets.
So more people find their creative voices.
I’m not just going to watch 2019 unfold.
I’m going to plant flowers and tend to them.
Because we see what we sow.
And I want to see flowers.
I’m going to plant flowers and tend to them.
Because we see what we sow.
And I want to see flowers.
@threadreaderapp Unroll, please? <3
