Our culture didn’t need any assistance in further isolating ourselves, and yet a global pandemic has managed to do just that. Each day we hear stories of people who yearn for community and friendship. Singles and shut-ins are just two examples of the loneliness epidemic. So how do we combat that both in normal times and in times of COVID?
The problem with back porch living
I’m no expert on American housing, but it seems that the last few decades have seen a migration to the homeowner’s backyard. Gated neighborhoods, two-car garages that seal us off at the push of a button, privacy fences, and even fire pits have conspired to remove the front porch in favor of the back porch. Add the threat of a highly-contagious virus, and it’s the perfect mix for boxing ourselves off from the world.
What we gain in comfort, we lose in community. Gone are the days of front porch swings and rocking chairs, sipping lemonade while waving a friendly hello or having an impromptu conversation with a neighbor who stops by. Locked in our living rooms or sequestered on the back deck, we miss natural, easy opportunities to connect.
I recognize that this is a first-world problem that not even everyone in the first-world has. I realize that COVID is a real threat to our health and that of our neighbor. That said, I’ve discovered that many of us will take any excuse to stay in the backyard. While I believe that hospitality is the new apologetic, I’ll be the first to admit I’m not always quick to live…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.