Have you ever heard of the “third space?” Not too many people have, because in the present culture, it has pretty much disappeared, especially among the younger and non-religious. “Sociologist Ray Oldenburg (1991) described third spaces as informal, accessible places where people gather voluntarily, build relationships, and create shared meaning. They are neutral, low-pressure environments that foster a sense of belonging and social cohesion.” More than just a sociological observation, research has shown that it has medical implications for neurological health.
If there is a third space, then there must be a first and second space. The first concerns home life, where a certainty of peace, security, and intimacy should prevail. Obviously, this is not the case in all domestic situations; nevertheless, these sureties should exist.
The second space is commonly understood as the place where people work to make a living. The second place is where people produce, create, and add value to society. It is not limited to those in the workforce; the definition can apply to those who are retired and doing other work, such as volunteering and caregiving.
The third space is defined as the place between home life and work. Fewer people are familiar with this area because it focuses on a shared space where people gather informally without obligation or necessity. It is a place where human interaction, face-to-face, was much more prevalent in days past, when communicating with another person had little to do with technology.
Before, people living in neighborhoods knew many of their neighbors, not just the ones to their right or left. Third spaces, such as dances, where many in the World War II era met their future spouses and enjoyed the company of others. It was also very common for people to gather in another’s house for coffee and (a term once used) for a game of cards. All that mattered was having conversations and spending time with one another without any of the fake personas we see today.
Outside of formal holidays, the third space is almost extinct. Social media has changed all that for middle-aged and younger adults. The interconnectedness that a human craves and needs is no longer found in third-space places, where our roles as parents or work titles do not define us. It is a place where there need not be pretension or inflation, just human beings relating to one another without the need to power over or control the other person. It used to be called enjoying another’s company.
The preferred way of communicating these days has little to do with resting in another’s company and interacting as fellow humans. Technology makes it easier to be fake and braggadocios because the user does not immediately get feedback from someone across from them who might be calling BS on them. The inherent problem of misreading a text is also problematic because skimpy words can never express the emotion intended by the composer. Many a text misread has caused undue friction. The lack of a third space has been linked to the rise of mental illness.
Exacerbating the problem are those who have lost their faith and do not engage as a community in worshiping God. Church services are the epitome of third spaces, where the only thing really known is that people like you in unison are publicly proclaiming a faith, a uniquely human thing to do. Our connection with the others in the pews never cares about who or what a person is, except that they believe as you do.
Third spaces have been studied, and the conclusion is that they are essential for our neurological health. Northeast Psychological Wellness sums up the mental health benefits nicely:
“An important feature of Third Places is their ability to support and enhance our emotional well-being. Third Places can combat loneliness, improve mood, and reduce stress because of their comfortable, social, and relaxed character. If a Third Place gives you a feeling of community, like when someone participates in a volunteer service organization or engages in a hobby they can’t do at work or home, it can also provide a sense of purpose and identity.”
Remove your finger from the social media post on your phone and use it to call family and friends to come over and enjoy an evening or meal. Or better yet, go to Church on Sunday, knowing it will help you spiritually and mentally.