Cue all the happy, grateful tears reading this! I first learned about third places slowly and maybe our post pandemic selves craved community and connection that much more that the vocab of “a third place” was unearthed! After time away I think you realize how necessary a third place truly is. At least that was definitely the case for me and now I know that I need them! Wednesday are dedicated me time—socializing as self care haha. My third place while abroad was a Zumba class! Even if it wasn’t a third space full of writers it was warm and welcoming. So I guess my advice is to try a bunch of places?! And then soon enough you might fall into a pattern and you’ll start running into people you know and soon enough you’ll be gabbing about life.
Absolutely! "Distance makes the heart grow fonder" feels true for my third places in the US and Manchester. I miss them as if they were actual people!!! I love that Zumba was your third place in Spain, thanks for sharing -- that motivates me to think outside of my comfort zone a bit more, as I never know what could end up serving as a "third place"! We'll all find out together lol :)
Love this topic! I am a frequent haunter of third places, and now that I think about it, there's one thing in common: I choose my third places based on where a close friend works. A pub, a coffeeshop, a pizzeria, a bakery, a bookshop, a library. I'll bring a book or a project, chat with my friend and other customers, and enjoy whatever that particular place has to offer, whether it's a latte, a beer, food, or just the ambience. Now that all my friends have boring "grown up" jobs, I sometimes miss those days. Maybe it's my turn to finally live my fantasy life of working at a bookshop, so folks can come visit *me* for a respite from their day to day lives?
Ah, this is so sweet!!! I love the idea of you visiting your friends at their workplace and making it your third place. As a result, you probably helped your friend's first place feel more like a third place, which is really special. I am TOTALLY on board with you living out your fantasy life of working at a bookshop, so that one day when I return to the US the roles will be reversed and *that* will be my third place ;)
100%! I remember reading the post about your bakery (it's the first post I read by you) and it definitely reminds me of everything a third place is supposed to be! :)
Thanks for introducing me to this topic! I can see how having another sanctuary outside of your home and work would be so beneficial for fostering community and connection. That's something that's missing from a lot of people's lives these days I think (including my own sometimes). And you're right, the force of the universe always seems to be giving us little hints and signals about what direction to go. Something out there calls to our truest selves, if we're only listening to hear :) I really liked that reminder <3 Also... was acting class our third space?
OMG IT ABSOLUTELY WAS!!! I didn't even think about third places as a child, because we weren't working yet, but I'd definitely agree that school = work at that age. That must be why we were so obsessed with acting class! It was a community, and a place to get away from normal life. (Even better at that age, because we were actually stepping into new lives and characters.) Oh, it's so cool to see third places present in my life even earlier than adulthood. :)
As for it missing from a lot of people's lives these days, I'd say raising awareness about how important third places are is the first step (especially as more and more people are working from home... home then acts as their first AND second place, so a need for a sanctuary outside the home grows more important.) But it takes effort, and energy, and sometimes putting yourself out there multiple times to find the right fit can be really difficult. But it's worth it!
I loved this article, Paige! An interesting thought about "third place". Some used to call that my getaway place so could it not change according to seasons, feelings, such as the Fall and riding through a park, stop/sitting on a bench everyday meeting/engaging in conversation with whoever is there possibly waiting on their cosmic connection and would feel you were their sign for that day. A beautiful Spring day you sit in a cafe and engage in a conversation with someone who looks approachable and at the end of it you both could say you were meant to be at that very place at that same time for the interaction because you both contributed something to each others lives that was either profound or was needed to be heard.
Loved the article..you're always thought provoking; I've always believed signs are around us but this article took it a bit deeper.
Love all the different interpretations of third places -- or "getaway places" :) To me, a third place means somewhere that you can escape from the stresses of everyday life and also feel connected to the humanity around you... so the examples you described sound perfect! It's a nice idea to think that you could be someone's "cosmic coincidence," too. I'm glad the idea resonated with you and thanks for reading & sharing your thoughts on it!
Cue all the happy, grateful tears reading this! I first learned about third places slowly and maybe our post pandemic selves craved community and connection that much more that the vocab of “a third place” was unearthed! After time away I think you realize how necessary a third place truly is. At least that was definitely the case for me and now I know that I need them! Wednesday are dedicated me time—socializing as self care haha. My third place while abroad was a Zumba class! Even if it wasn’t a third space full of writers it was warm and welcoming. So I guess my advice is to try a bunch of places?! And then soon enough you might fall into a pattern and you’ll start running into people you know and soon enough you’ll be gabbing about life.
Absolutely! "Distance makes the heart grow fonder" feels true for my third places in the US and Manchester. I miss them as if they were actual people!!! I love that Zumba was your third place in Spain, thanks for sharing -- that motivates me to think outside of my comfort zone a bit more, as I never know what could end up serving as a "third place"! We'll all find out together lol :)
Love this topic! I am a frequent haunter of third places, and now that I think about it, there's one thing in common: I choose my third places based on where a close friend works. A pub, a coffeeshop, a pizzeria, a bakery, a bookshop, a library. I'll bring a book or a project, chat with my friend and other customers, and enjoy whatever that particular place has to offer, whether it's a latte, a beer, food, or just the ambience. Now that all my friends have boring "grown up" jobs, I sometimes miss those days. Maybe it's my turn to finally live my fantasy life of working at a bookshop, so folks can come visit *me* for a respite from their day to day lives?
Ah, this is so sweet!!! I love the idea of you visiting your friends at their workplace and making it your third place. As a result, you probably helped your friend's first place feel more like a third place, which is really special. I am TOTALLY on board with you living out your fantasy life of working at a bookshop, so that one day when I return to the US the roles will be reversed and *that* will be my third place ;)
This is a new concept to me, and I love it. Maybe my bakery was that for others.
100%! I remember reading the post about your bakery (it's the first post I read by you) and it definitely reminds me of everything a third place is supposed to be! :)
Thanks for introducing me to this topic! I can see how having another sanctuary outside of your home and work would be so beneficial for fostering community and connection. That's something that's missing from a lot of people's lives these days I think (including my own sometimes). And you're right, the force of the universe always seems to be giving us little hints and signals about what direction to go. Something out there calls to our truest selves, if we're only listening to hear :) I really liked that reminder <3 Also... was acting class our third space?
OMG IT ABSOLUTELY WAS!!! I didn't even think about third places as a child, because we weren't working yet, but I'd definitely agree that school = work at that age. That must be why we were so obsessed with acting class! It was a community, and a place to get away from normal life. (Even better at that age, because we were actually stepping into new lives and characters.) Oh, it's so cool to see third places present in my life even earlier than adulthood. :)
As for it missing from a lot of people's lives these days, I'd say raising awareness about how important third places are is the first step (especially as more and more people are working from home... home then acts as their first AND second place, so a need for a sanctuary outside the home grows more important.) But it takes effort, and energy, and sometimes putting yourself out there multiple times to find the right fit can be really difficult. But it's worth it!
I loved this article, Paige! An interesting thought about "third place". Some used to call that my getaway place so could it not change according to seasons, feelings, such as the Fall and riding through a park, stop/sitting on a bench everyday meeting/engaging in conversation with whoever is there possibly waiting on their cosmic connection and would feel you were their sign for that day. A beautiful Spring day you sit in a cafe and engage in a conversation with someone who looks approachable and at the end of it you both could say you were meant to be at that very place at that same time for the interaction because you both contributed something to each others lives that was either profound or was needed to be heard.
Loved the article..you're always thought provoking; I've always believed signs are around us but this article took it a bit deeper.
Thank you for your thoughts and writing, Paige!
Love all the different interpretations of third places -- or "getaway places" :) To me, a third place means somewhere that you can escape from the stresses of everyday life and also feel connected to the humanity around you... so the examples you described sound perfect! It's a nice idea to think that you could be someone's "cosmic coincidence," too. I'm glad the idea resonated with you and thanks for reading & sharing your thoughts on it!