I’ve read a lot of descriptions of communities in times past, and it seems that in most of them, people were more connected with other people than they are today. I realize the pitfall of thinking that another time was perfect, and yet I think they may have had something that we may have lost. Women who washed clothing together at the river while children played together nearby. Extended families that grew up around each other, equally bearing the burden for the very young and old. A group of families that gathered at the end of the day for a bonfire, a story, entertainment, and relaxation.
I think that the sheer size of many of our organizations is partly what daunts many of us. How will I ever know and care about all of the people in my town, my church, even my neighborhood? And how can we maintain relationships with people that are so different, even though they live next door? So often, I think, we don’t try.
And what we end up with is isolation. I have my own washing machine, so I don’t wash with the other women. I have a telephone and e-mail, so I can talk to my parents when I need them, but not live with them daily. I have a television inside my house I can turn on for my entertainment, and not bother with a crowd. And for none of these things do I need to really connect with another soul.
But somehow we still need each other. I think we need reassurance, encouragement, and real physical help in many parts of our lives. I think we have a need to offer those things to others. But if you live across town, across the country, I can’t know when you need me. Unless you open your mouth and ask for help, and by then it’s usually pretty bad.
All of this is to ask you a question. If you could design the perfect community, one not designed around a developer’s pocketbook and a two-income family economy, what would it look like? What if the whole point of your community was to support home, family, and community? What if the psychological well-being of every family member in every family in your community were every bit as important as how the family makes its money?
Draw me a picture, or write it out, but I want to hear your ideas on this. I’ll reserve my ideas until after I hear yours, lest I bias your thought process. (I don’t know how much of a carrot my ideas are for you, but you are still here…)
1 comment:
so i haven't had much time to think on it, but in the past I loved co-op cooking. 4 of us ladies shared in the task of making dinners resulting in me cooking one night during the week. I loved the fact that I had it covered if I didn't have any groceries that day or whatever. I also think Proximity is the key! It's huge to feel connected by having neighbors that you trust and can help you in a bind!
Post a Comment