Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The 2Brews

A while back I borrowed a book written about the, "Great, Good places" of the world. The type of places many refer to as Third-Place. A third-place is that zone between the two worlds we spend most of our time in, work and home. It's a place without pressure or anxiety; a place where little is expected but much can be given. A third-place is that thing that has the potential to relieve and energize, both at the same time. And some have said, the place that can be the most important place of all.

For most of you, this notion of a third-place is probably very foreign. That's understandable because the booming years after WWII almost caused their extinction. Suburbs and housing developments and malls did their part as well. The so-called advancement of our culture and the over-working of our people, the very things that made third-places so needed, were ironically making them disappear.

For those of you who want me to define third-places, I will refrain because I'm not certain a single picture can be painted of what they look like. They've existed for centuries and have had as many faces as the people who frequented them. To some they were coffee shops, to others a pub, to yet others it was the confluence of fence rows. They've been churches, porches, libraries, gas stations, parlors, fields, grocery stores, and parks. They were the places that fell between work and home; whatever that happened to be. The place where cares and stresses were placed on hold, and the relationships of friends and acquaintances were most important.

Some dear friends of ours are planning a third-place. They have opened their lives and thoughts to whatever people are willing to share. They have welcomed me, and in turn are welcoming you. If a third-place sounds like something you want or need, check them out. Their link is to the right, The 2Brews, which is their brainstorming blog. Click on it, read their thoughts, add your own; any and all are welcome and encouraged. You can help shape something brand new; don't let that opportunity pass. This is the beginnings of our own great, good place.

3 Comments:

Blogger Kimmy said...

Is that Steve & Vic as in our former neighbors, Steve & Vic?

The place sounds awesome!

6:32 PM  
Blogger Adrienne said...

Glad to see a Sam post.

I want to move into a third-place. And never come back.

:)

2:06 AM  
Blogger Sam said...

Yes, Kimmy, the same Steve and Vic.

Adrienne, sounds pretty awesome, huh? How awesome would it be to still have these places we could unwind? I'm looking forward to them getting it off the ground.

9:39 PM  

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