This post was originally published on October 6, 2020.
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Life has been so off this year. With the whole social distancing thing, it’s been nearly impossible to be social. Yet, we found our ways to connect because, at the heart of it, we’re social beings. And as social beings, we need to be around others.
It’s been such a relief now that the mandates have been relaxed enough for us to gather together in larger numbers, don’t you think?
I don’t know about you guys, but those first few months were not easy. As a single woman, living alone, it was really tough.
The first, maybe three, weeks, I totally leaned into my introversion and was all like, oh, man, I don’t think I even want to go back to normal social obligations and expectations.
But then the reality of the magnitude of the forced solitude really set in and I realized, no, I need to be around people. My people.
And so it started, as it does, with the inner circle. Quarantini gatherings of cautious social distancing practices outside back when we knew even less. But it was enough to satisfy those cravings of being together.
At that point.
But the deeper we got into it, the more those natural human needs for community and relationship became almost a luxury we had taken for granted.
So, when life threw me a plot twist of a very unexpected forced move and opened the door to living with people I consider to be my people, it turned out to be such a blessing. It was as though a huge, anxious weight was lifted off my shoulders.
I know not everyone has the same situation but, this being my story, I want to share it with you. I appreciate the built-in community a family provides and, frankly, miss it. Single and living alone has its perks but one of the drawbacks is not having that built-in communal living.
Which is why, for me, communal gathering is so very special.
Roommates are one thing and great to have during certain seasons of life. They teach a lot about consideration for others and communicating differences in preferences.
But this communal living is different. It feels more like a modern family versus a living with roommates situation. Even though, if you were to break it down, that’s what it is.
Any night you can find us just chillin’, watching a show. Or sitting outside on the patio by the firepit. Or cooking keto meals. Or drinking wine. Or picking up extra salad makings for each other at the store. Or laughing over something that happened that day. Or debriefing after a long day. Or gushing over the cutest little Pomerian around.
But all the time it’s relaxed and companionable. This is doing life with people.
And so, while family at this point in my life doesn’t necessarily look like how I thought it would, it’s still a good family. It’s busy and full yet balanced with plenty of muted moments of peace and calm.
It’s home with people. And it’s wonderful.
