What's the hardest part?

The hardest thing about living together on this planet, in this city, on this street, is doing it together.

You could argue that doing life together is the point of life itself. We see to have forgotten this around here, at some point along the way..

Or maybe we've sold out. Maybe we live with the cry of "I don't need this in my life" ringing on in our ears. Maybe the pursuit of happiness just leaves us blinded by the shining light of our own dreams.

Somewhere along the way we've bought into the idea that we don't need to do the hard stuff, the tough journeys, the challenging conversations. We don't need to do the emotional labour of sharing our house, our street, our life with someone. 

It might be hard, but it's worth it.

And learning to life together, to work together, to share space together is only going to be more important.

Rich days in a rich neighbourhood

A rich and full life is worth striving for. Don't settle for the busy and time poor version that's being sold.

Find the freedom in creative restriction. The joy found in limitations. The fullness found in simplicity.

The richness of a life lived in proximity to others.

Let's not treat our neighbourhoods as transit corridors, or think of ourselves as commuter who leave our streets for a place we'd rather be. Instead, let's be present in our neighbourhoods and make them the place we'd rather be.

Rich days are found in any neighbourhood where relationships are woven together, and people populate the public spaces.

When the houses all look the same

Richness in life comes from relationships with a range of people. Which means, people not like you.

When we buy a new house in a subdivision where the houses look the same, cost the same, and are sold at around the same time, it's no wonder that our neighbours look like us.

Let's build for diversity of people, diversity of connection, for a rich life.