Sheila Liming, professor at Champlain College in Burlington and the author of the new book, Hanging Out, argues that the simple act of getting together for unstructured time is essential to our wellbeing.
Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community created GATHER, a free and open-door "community living room," as a way to address the epidemic of loneliness. The Surgeon General recently raised the alarm about the epidemic of loneliness and says we should "cultivate a culture of connection." Dr. Liming thinks that reclaiming "hanging out" as part of our lives can help.
Dr. Liming talked with Ezra Klein at the New York times.
EZRA KLEIN: So you write that, quote, "It's no secret that modern life is isolating and that if anything, it looks to be headed in the direction of increased, not decreased, isolation." Why do you think that's the case?
SHEILA LIMING: Well, there's a number of factors, I think, that affect the increasing circumstances of our isolation — factors such as time, decreased amounts of time that can be spent freely, especially freely in social scenarios where we are just hanging out with other people, interacting with them, having conversation with no set agenda or real sort of goal that's supposed to guide that.
Please come and "hang out" with us and Dr. Liming at Gather on Sunday June 11 at 1:00 to engage in a conversation about the benefits of creating unstructured spaces where the purpose is simply to gather together. Light snacks and refreshments will be offered.
This event is free and open to everyone. Donations to support Gather are welcome.
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