[Seasons: Summer XV]
Early attempts at building community are difficult.
Social anxieties, unconscious and conscious concerns about strangers, unintentional group pressures, subcultural particularities and norms, and idiosyncrasies are all stumbling blocks. In other words, early encounters of community building can be just plain awkward.
Fabricated hospitality doesn’t address the awkwardness. (You know it’s fabricated if a) it needs to be mentioned that the group is hospitable, and b) the responsibility is delegated to an individual or committee.) Smiles will seem forced. Handshakes and greetings will feel clunky and weird.
Only genuine warmth and safety…
Excessive sharing and grace…
And a deep belief in the value of others’ participation…
Can create an aura of hospitality.
Another way to say it is this: summer—the season of excessive sharing and genuine sustained warmth—is a beautiful metaphor for solving the awkwardness of early community formation and sincere hospitality.
