Cocooning, which emerged in the 1980s, addresses the need to protect oneself from the harsh, unpredictable realities of the outside world. Recently, the impulse to stay inside when the outside becomes too tough and scary has become a reality.
Have you ever thought that things need to change? If only x were different, everyone would be happy and everything would be good.
Then, nothing changes and we keep wishing for change. For those who fear change, the mantra is to make nothing change. Let’s be safe and pretend everything is good and everyone is happy.
But for those who no longer want to pretend, no matter how hard we wish, the status quo persists.
Our world consists of people who, over the past few decades, have moved away from community to cocooning. Taking care of me and only me.
We no longer know the path back to ourselves and our communities. It’s a place where we don’t have to think about change as we create together what we need most.
In the last few months, I have been living in co-housing. Each person has their own place and there is a shared common area for work, coffee, joint meals. While the structure is there for community, everything depends on the people who show up.
You’d think that people who choose co-housing would want to interact with a community. But what I learned is that it is hit and miss. Some are eager to share a meal or conversation, while others rarely even say hello and distance themselves from communal living. It’s not a matter of language but culture. It is fascinating.
Building a community isn’t just about physical spaces like shared kitchens or living rooms, but also about nurturing an environment where intentions matter. Real connection comes from the shared intention to build something together. At home and at work.
Our experiences come from how we communicate with each other, whether through an app or in physical space. Open discussions about what everyone hopes to gain from their living situation offer an opportunity to foster a stronger sense of community. However, despite choosing co-housing, some people might not desire community, which suggests that dialogue could help clarify expectations and needs.
Since I no longer have a home base, home is in the heart. And my home is my temple and I treat every place as my own. I have hope that the community who loves to share and be real is possible.