These days
I suspect that what holds many back from being closer and more hospitable to others is the sheer fact that the custom of our time says dropping in on someone or asking someone for help is NOT DONE. It is considered rude to do what our ancestors did not too long ago, and just drop in on a neighbor. The daily chat over the back fence is getting to be a thing of the past, because our lives have taken a turn in a hectic direction. Our grandparents worked from sunup to sundown, but went home to little in the way of amusements. Quite possibly no TV or phone, no internet, not many new books or periodicals. Watchin' the grass grow.

I've been thinking about the many, many obstacles of trying to establish community. Maybe some of you are like myself, and were not raised in a household that encouraged hospitality, so you have no example to follow, no good habits formed. Inviting someone over may be something you don't even think of until the random thought enters your head, "you know, I should be more hospitable". And then you go on with paying the bills or doing the yard work or helping your kids with their homework or whatever. And time slips away and you still haven't had anyone over for coffee.

I don't really have any good solutions to pass along here, I have hermit blood in me and am very very bad about this, myself!
The thing is, our lives our epidemically busy (duh), and until we can work our way out of THAT, we're going to be in a constant struggle to keep in touch with our friends and family, or invite people over on a regular basis. I know I'll probably be fighting for the rest of my life to make it a habit.
Let's agree to be patient with the people who don't call back or write back, and be patient with ourselves when we forget to call back or write back, and remember that we're all on a whirlwind these days-and we're all trying our best. Let's agree to keep trying.
-cel