I thrive on socializing, just ask my parents, I've always been this way. So it's been a good couple of days for me. There are about a million different reasons why I love to be around other people. Here are just a few of the reasons why...
My heart's desire is to be in daily motion with others. To lend support and receive it too. To laugh and cry with other people who can feel along with me. To talk about what really matters and share memories. To just sit and be with someone who knows my heart, even when no words are needed. To look around and see faces of people I love smiling at me. To make another of God's creatures feel like they're perfectly lovable whatever their struggle. To have my kids learn that family means a lot of things, from Nanny and Bapa, to "Mommy Katie."
Everyone needs some alone time, myself included. But I do think we need other people more than we realize. I really do want to literally live with my own supportive friends/family. I've had a pipe dream for a long time of having my closest friends live on the same block with us. There are a whole lot of reasons I'd love this, but I think one of my favorites is what I would learn from it. I would love to have constant examples of loving women, mothering alongside me and teaching me ways of parenting that I never would have thought of on my own. And how each family would give something to the mix. Each would teach something with how they live, from how to grow your own veggies, to inspiring others to be creative and truly live their lives. And even better, we would learn from each other's ways of loving. From how to grow your marriage into what you want it to be, to how to be more patient with your kids. We would be inspired, challenged and encouraged by each other.
Crazy pipe dream of an unreachable utopia? Maybe. But maybe not. Perhaps it's entirely possible! Call me crazy, but I'm all for the commune!!!
I've been thinking about this a lot lately and may have to revisit this topic in a post again soon. You never know, we may just be able to make this particular dream a reality... I'm believing...
4 clicked right here to comment:
No, not too nuts :) I lived in a community type setting for a year. I will have to tell you more about it sometime...
I've been browsing some books on the topic, too! ...and, hey, there's a house for sale two doors down from me and a few others on the next block! ;)
I'll get back to you on the books. I haven't actually read any...just browsing covers & titles right now.
Not crazy at all. We live communally right now, but I'm not sure if we see it as a possible long term arrangement or not since we live under the same roof with another family. As they boys get older it might get awkward to live with other kids who aren't your siblings. But, I love the idea of living in side-by-side townhouses or condos in the future I think. We also save lots of $ living with another couple. We split food, internet, utilities, household repairs and improvements... amazing what you can do with two family's incomes. But we're all seminary students, so there is an end in sight for this season. We know we only have 2 more years together and then we'll all sell the house that we bought together. I'm not sure about a permanent "sharing one house" arrangement, but we're enjoying it for now. If you ever get the chance, go for it. We know of 2 other families who share a house, and they love it.
Post a Comment