The other day, when I walked to the kitchen to have a glass of water, I overheard my mother talking with the excitement of a teenager with her sister about the latest shenanigans from the show they were watching together. I smiled to myself and thought of last Sunday, when I spent an hour on Facetime with my sister and best friend, discussing the latest episode of Wheel of Time, cheesy romances that we were reading during the last month of the year, and the coffee/hot chocolate/wine/tea that we were currently drinking and loving.
Later that evening over dinner conversations, I said to my mom, “You know, I just realized what makes the strongest bonds or communities!”
She said, “Is it? So what did you discover?”
And I said, feeling all wise and sagely, “It isnt politics or religion or geography or genes. Its food, beverages and a common love for what entertains us or keeps us happy!“
For me and the people I’m drawn to, I realised, it has always been our love of food, coffee, or drinks. Its our love for music and books. And our love for satire and sarcasm. Our love for well made screen adaptations.
For my mom, it is food, recipes and the latest romantic soap she’s watching.
For my sister, its her love for music and friends.
For my husband, its fitness, music and a dark, sarcastic, satirical show, cars and sports probably.
For my daughter, its currently My Little Ponies or The Powerpuff Girls 😀
I realized, with the things that actually bring us peace and joy, there is never any conflict. If I love coffee and my mom likes tea and my friend likes non caffeinated drinks, we dont get into an argument over which is better and which one the other should drink or not drink. It’s always an additional prop that helps us have a better time.
I read a book last week – The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab and there is a statement in the book that says,
So much of life becomes routine, but food is like music, like art, replete with the promise of something new.
V.E. Schwab, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue
and I agree. Without art, without books, a meal made with love, a beverage to be shared with kindred spirits, a captivating show to escape into and discuss with enthusiasm, music to make you feel whatever you want to feel at that moment, life would be such a chore 🙂
Art , ideas and words are according to me, things that bond us. Things that we can’t fight over or about. Things that help us appreciate life and each other.
What about you? What are some of the things you look for when forming a community? 🙂
Starry Eyed Enigma 