“Men did not love Rome because she was great. She was great because they had loved her.” — G.K. Chesterton Dear friends, A short story: The princess kisses a frog, and creates the prince. ~ ~ ~ Over time several thoughts of the same cloth have come to me:
I’ve been reading the Wind in the Willows with my daughters lately. It really explores these themes you’re talking about (adventure, belonging, friendship, time) in a wonderful way. But best of all, my daughters always request it as our final book before bed. And keep requesting it. Since starting in the spring, we’ve read it through four times now. It’s gets better each time. (Family inside jokes born from reading stories aloud together are just the best!) not sure where this is going except to say I can relate.
1) I've thought about Chesterton lately, what a nice confirmation, ty
2) I'm excited you linked to Andy Matuschak, I think you have before, but I'd lost him & am fascinated w/ his tools (I wish I could build his site!), ty
3) you've put words to what I've allowed myself to experience online w/ community. having that definition is very encouraging - it gives me courage to continue, simon. I think it needed to be said for a lot of people. we need that affirmation that we seek place, even here, ty.. :)
.. and, lovely format. very refreshing, naturally built. perfect. :)
Beautiful. A quote from George Elliot came to mind as I read your thoughts on familiarity: “We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it, if it were not the earth where the same flowers come up again every spring that we used to gather with our tiny fingers as we sat lisping to ourselves on the grass, the same hips and haws on the autumn hedgerows, the same redbreasts that we used to call ‘God’s birds’ because they did no harm to the precious crops. What novelty is worth that sweet monotony where everything is known and loved because it is known?”
I would’ve benefitted greatly from this when I first moved to Seattle after graduating college. It was pervasive as a tech transplant to treat the city as temporary, and I think because of that, I really struggled to find belonging (aka community). Great post.
This reminds me of that line from Belloc's "Death of Wandering Peter", about choosing either to see the entirety of the world, or to remain in one's garden and hear the voice of God.
"how best to cultivate the familiarity of people? Where can we find the repetition required? "
The basketball court or a family friendly gym like the YMCA. My younger brothers used to go there all the time and just shoot baskets and after a while befriended the regulars. Needless to say they are hating quarantine.
My family and I have been longing for this kind of life. We move to a new town during covid-19 for work and it's been very hard to even find people but soon we'll be moving back home with friends we've known and loved for years and a place we love as well.
reminds me of how you feel uncomfortable when in a new environment and this is natural. it’s actually unnatural to try to remove this, which is sad because so many people try (ex dating apps, being on their phones to look busy etc)
I’ve been reading the Wind in the Willows with my daughters lately. It really explores these themes you’re talking about (adventure, belonging, friendship, time) in a wonderful way. But best of all, my daughters always request it as our final book before bed. And keep requesting it. Since starting in the spring, we’ve read it through four times now. It’s gets better each time. (Family inside jokes born from reading stories aloud together are just the best!) not sure where this is going except to say I can relate.
3 things -
1) I've thought about Chesterton lately, what a nice confirmation, ty
2) I'm excited you linked to Andy Matuschak, I think you have before, but I'd lost him & am fascinated w/ his tools (I wish I could build his site!), ty
3) you've put words to what I've allowed myself to experience online w/ community. having that definition is very encouraging - it gives me courage to continue, simon. I think it needed to be said for a lot of people. we need that affirmation that we seek place, even here, ty.. :)
.. and, lovely format. very refreshing, naturally built. perfect. :)
Beautiful. A quote from George Elliot came to mind as I read your thoughts on familiarity: “We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it, if it were not the earth where the same flowers come up again every spring that we used to gather with our tiny fingers as we sat lisping to ourselves on the grass, the same hips and haws on the autumn hedgerows, the same redbreasts that we used to call ‘God’s birds’ because they did no harm to the precious crops. What novelty is worth that sweet monotony where everything is known and loved because it is known?”
I would’ve benefitted greatly from this when I first moved to Seattle after graduating college. It was pervasive as a tech transplant to treat the city as temporary, and I think because of that, I really struggled to find belonging (aka community). Great post.
This reminds me of that line from Belloc's "Death of Wandering Peter", about choosing either to see the entirety of the world, or to remain in one's garden and hear the voice of God.
"how best to cultivate the familiarity of people? Where can we find the repetition required? "
The basketball court or a family friendly gym like the YMCA. My younger brothers used to go there all the time and just shoot baskets and after a while befriended the regulars. Needless to say they are hating quarantine.
Love it
My family and I have been longing for this kind of life. We move to a new town during covid-19 for work and it's been very hard to even find people but soon we'll be moving back home with friends we've known and loved for years and a place we love as well.
reminds me of how you feel uncomfortable when in a new environment and this is natural. it’s actually unnatural to try to remove this, which is sad because so many people try (ex dating apps, being on their phones to look busy etc)
Does the analogy extend to online communities?
Thank you
This study is evidence of this...https://twitter.com/berkie1/status/1332410185881694208?s=19