Richard Kyte solution is that we have to start living with intentionality. One of the issues with losing all our third places is that people are slowly losing contact with people around them.
They lose their support system and slowly they become more and more isolated. As this happens they become more and more depressed. He talks about Dunbars’s Number.
Robert Dunbar was a British Psychologist who said that most people can maintain about 150 meaningful contacts along with 5 best friends and 15 close friends. The very close friends or intimate friends are people they spend meaningful time with and share their joys and sorrows.
Who are the good friends, they would be people who you share hobbies or activities with. Your church, Rotary club or something along those lines. The last group acquaintances would be people you know by name or sight and usually you would know very little about them.
His big premise is that in todays landscape a person who doesn’t want to become isolated has to work at keeping up their inner circles of friends. He likens it to a friendship garden where the soil is cultivated, seeds are planted and relationships are nurtured till they grow into maturity.
I enjoyed reading the book and it has given me a lot to think about my relationships with other people. I would strongly recommend it to you if you enjoy thought provoking reading.
I will see you all again on Thursday. If you have struggled with this question and others then go to Patterson2Y2R,com/blog should be a place you should visit to share your stories and challenges.
I have an ear that would love to hear your stories. Let’s taste the real meaning of life. I am still working on my course with the goal of launching a starter course, and I will keep you abreast as to how the process goes.
If you want to participate in this process and join my first class please send me an email to bobchuckpatterson@yahoo.com
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