The word "ritual" has interesting overtones. I know for many, it has very specific religious meanings. Having grown up Catholic, I get that. I've lived it. But I love when people expand their view on what it means.
I have a good friend (#4 on "who have I known the longest" list of active contacts) who lives alone, and spends what some might consider an unhealthy amount of time playing online games. EXCEPT, he has what he calls rituals. He's a beer afficionado, has developed relationships with many of the local craft people, and has a route and friends he meets with regularly. In person. Several days (and locations) each week.
Part of *my* adoption of rituals is to join him for at least one. Most Friday's around lunch time you'll find he, me, and an assortment of other like-minded folk, at a local brewpub, enjoying the latest brew, discussing the latest dumpster fires, and just generally enjoying each other's company.
For those who immediately associated "ritual" with something more formal, it doesn't have to be so. It can be as simple as a semi-regular lunch, coffee, walk, game, or whatever gets you in contact with other people. Something I've been trying to prioritize for myself.
PS: In case you're wondering, #1 on my known-longest list is my wife, and I had lunch with #2 and #3 just last week. I'll be seeing #4 this Friday. As usual.
This is lovely, and thanks for expanding on ritual. The article was already long and had I broken that out it would have become even more unwieldy. But excellent points. The ritual really speaks to how we make those community connections, having little to do with religion and vastly more to do with how we make time for people we care about.
The word "ritual" has interesting overtones. I know for many, it has very specific religious meanings. Having grown up Catholic, I get that. I've lived it. But I love when people expand their view on what it means.
I have a good friend (#4 on "who have I known the longest" list of active contacts) who lives alone, and spends what some might consider an unhealthy amount of time playing online games. EXCEPT, he has what he calls rituals. He's a beer afficionado, has developed relationships with many of the local craft people, and has a route and friends he meets with regularly. In person. Several days (and locations) each week.
Part of *my* adoption of rituals is to join him for at least one. Most Friday's around lunch time you'll find he, me, and an assortment of other like-minded folk, at a local brewpub, enjoying the latest brew, discussing the latest dumpster fires, and just generally enjoying each other's company.
For those who immediately associated "ritual" with something more formal, it doesn't have to be so. It can be as simple as a semi-regular lunch, coffee, walk, game, or whatever gets you in contact with other people. Something I've been trying to prioritize for myself.
PS: In case you're wondering, #1 on my known-longest list is my wife, and I had lunch with #2 and #3 just last week. I'll be seeing #4 this Friday. As usual.
This is lovely, and thanks for expanding on ritual. The article was already long and had I broken that out it would have become even more unwieldy. But excellent points. The ritual really speaks to how we make those community connections, having little to do with religion and vastly more to do with how we make time for people we care about.