If our first place is our home and the people we live with and the second place is the workplace where some of us spend most of our time, where is our third place? The original concept of the third place has been attributed to Ray Oldenburg who shared his research on the 1989 edition of The Great Good Place. These third places are our social spaces where we spend time away from home and work. In Oldenberg’s original research, third places were physical spaces where people met to socialize, make friends, and build relationships such as Rotary Clubs, church communities, libraries, parks, cafés and bars, among other friendly places. More recently, virtual spaces such as social media and live video conferencing platforms have taken the place of many of these physical places.

I am grateful to the members of my Renaissance Conversation Circle for the inspiration for this blog post. We are small group, now into our fourth year, meeting twice a month on Zoom. Some members attend nearly every session, others join when they can; new members are welcomed and, if they find a home in our circle, become regular participants. We select a topic and someone to be the conversation starter. Sessions are hosted and self-managed with some basic agreements rather than actively facilitated. We create space for deep conversations, exploring topics of common interest, sharing wisdom and experience, and supporting each other on journeys of collaboration and transformation.

I also host themed conversation circles and mastermind groups. Six-month programs of twelve 75-minute sessions allow a deep dive into the chapters of our Midlife, New Life book. An ongoing Conscious Leadership Mastermind group has an international flavor, and we explore the different principles and practices of conscious leadership in organizations and the wider world. The focus of these discussion groups is on inquiry and shared experiences rather than advising or advocating for personal strongly held positions and are shaped by relationships that are neither invasive nor evasive. Each circle serves as a special community, fostering wonderful interactions and building connections that often develop into lasting friendships with people we may never meet in person.

These virtual third places are for deep conversations – places for listening, learning, sharing, and improving our social wellness. If you are looking for connection and community, and these circles have piqued your interest, send me an email at info@2young2retire.com. Do yourself a favor and find a new third place today.

Article also posted at: https://drpaulward.com/blog/