11/08/2022
DEC 8. 5:30-8pm
(See MeetUp App for official event and RSVP)
BEING HUMAN: “Behavior”��We show up, eat, then come together around a fire-pit for 20-30 min to share stories/thoughts/ideas regarding a particular theme or “Word” for the night. When we get around a fire-pit and contemplate the questions/concerns/thoughts of life under the stars, it feels like we are doing something that humans have done for ages.��The word/theme for this week is: “BEHAVIOR ” … what comes to mind when you read this word? How does your body react? Where do your thoughts go? Does a story come to mind? Does your sense of self like/dislike this word? “Be on your best BEHAVIOR…” or “Why is she bahaving that way?” What might we mean when we use this word? What are we describing about the human experience when we say these things?��The conversation could go many directions… go ahead and prepare to riff on the word “BEHAVIOR” or listen to others share their own thoughts. We try our best to keep each person’s individual time to 2-5 minutes and the discussion to 20-30 min total. After that, we just sit around the fire pit, grab some more food, and hang out— that’s when the real fun begins!
�A FEW THINGS:�1. You found us! Many are surprised a group like this exist, and in Temecula nonetheless! RSVP ASAP for the next Gathering! We try to do one once a month!�2. BRING A FOOD ITEM TO SHARE W/ 3-5 PEOPLE. (I will supply drinks...)�3. HANG OUT/SHARE STORIES/ “BE” together.��What does a typical ‘gathering’ look like...?”�HERE YOU GO:
5:30-6pm Get settled in, meet new faces, encourage old faces, snack/munch/sip.
6-6:15 Settle-in to your outdoor chair (bring your own) for a large group-focused discussion on some random topic/word/activity (also: restroom time...)
6:15-6:45pm Foster discourse and try our best to STAY on that one random word/topic/activity ...
6:45-8pm Wrap-up group discussion then leave/bounce or get cozy/stay a while and snack on the leftovers while listening to more human stories. A good time to learn someone’s name that you’ve been talking to the whole night but were too embarrassed to ask them again right after they just told you their name at the beginning of the night but now it’s been almost two hours and you realize you’ll be friends no matter what...��For “new” people— we have had multiple “new” people come every time, so you shouldn’t feel out of place. If you don’t believe me and think you will still feel out-of-place, just bring a really good food dish to share with 3-5 people and you will win them over with your delectable goodness.
�For returners, bring a food item to share with 3-5 people just because that’s what we do……�
Play area for kids.��FINALLY: Read A DESCRIPTION FROM OUR 1st GATHERING: :::A gathering of humans around shared values and practices— putting the emphasis on BEING HUMAN rather than on “beliefs”... maybe doing things like CONNECTING, and CONTEMPLATING, and CRITICAL THINKING, and CREATING, and BEING COMPASSIONATE.��WE would love to reflect on these themes with anyone wanting to add some input to what these gatherings would look/feel/be like. Until then, OUR commitment to you reading this is to foster this kind of atmosphere/space for those gathered.��*Full disclosure:: ... if “religion” is making you a better human— hooooray for you! It worked for many of us for a long time too and/or is still working! However, I feel it is important to point out that a good number who come to our Gatherings are processing what life might look like “post-religion...” or “post-tribalism” Many came to a point where the values and tenants of their “religion” or “tribe” went against some core tenants of what it meant for them to be fully “human.” One of these either caused them to treat themselves or others less than human. Hence: BEING HUMAN. Though some are still a part of these religious structures/communities/ tribes, some have left, or are in the process of leaving, using the backyard as a safe space to explore questions, following the internal call to BEING HUMAN. We try to make this a safe place to ask those kinds of questions for those on a similar journey. Lastly, and Paradoxically— entering into this type of “safe” place for questioning can feel dangerous for some who desire certainty— we get that too!
