The Importance of Sharing a Meal as a Community: More Than Just Nourishment

The air is thick with the lingering aromas of garlic, rosemary, and freshly baked bread—a compilation of scents that tell stories older than any of us gathered here. Silverware rests lazily on empty plates, their work finished, bearing traces of sauces and crumbs like residual memories. Soft murmurs punctuate the space, a natural lull following the indulgence of a shared meal. Faces, flushed with the glow of satiety and kinship, look toward one another and away, lost in private reveries, yet united in a collective experience.

When was the last time you you felt nourished deep in your bones? How did it feel to laugh and learn something new about someone else and yourself? What kind of residue was left on your soul when you forgot about looming deadlines and let yourself be consumed by the present moment?

The scene above is a fundamentally simple human thing in its need for connection, for shared stories, for the quenching of both bodily and soulful hunger. This timeless tradition serves as a means to nourish the body, fortify relationships, and enrich the collective spirit.

Think back to a time when you met someone or learned something that you previously had no reference to but now can’t imagine your life without. What kind of nourishment lives inside of this memory? The lapse with most network state efforts is the consideration of the physical realities humans continue to be fortunate enough to experience. Some may view the need for nourishment and calories as an inconvenience, something we can engineer our lives away from. Modern technology is developing at unparalleled speeds. Daniel Schmachtenberger often talks about how technological innovations can outpace societal wisdom, potentially leading to unforeseen challenges and risks. He is a proponent of a more holistic and integrated approach to technology development, ensuring that the potential negative consequences are considered and addressed. His work emphasizes the importance of aligning technology with human values and ensuring that our advancements lead to positive, sustainable outcomes for civilization. To attempt to build a modern day village or network city of the future, we have to implement small practices of compassion in community and ethical actions.

It is an experience that adds texture to our lives, providing an irreplaceable medium for human connection, learning, and cultural exchange. In today's world, dominated by digital interactions and fast-paced lifestyles, there's a growing tendency to prioritize convenience over genuine human connection. The rapid rise of technology and the digital realm often means that we opt for quicker, more isolated experiences, overshadowing the age-old customs that foster deeper interpersonal bonds, such as sharing a meal.

In her transformative work, "The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters," Priya Parker delves deep into the intricacies of how we come together. She poignantly observes, that in an era where screen-time often supersedes face-time, the act of physically gathering around a table becomes a rebellion against the norm, a testament to the human spirit's undying need for genuine connection. Parker's insights remind us of the potency of shared experiences. It is not just about the act of eating, but about the deliberate choices we make in coming together, setting aside our screens and distractions to truly be present with one another.

Why it matters. What’s unique. We don’t have to recreate the wheel.

At its core, sharing a meal is about nurturing relationships. Whether it's among family members, (internet) friends, or neighbors, eating together offers a space for conversations to flow and bonds to strengthen. In contrast to isolated dining or grab-and-go meals, communal eating encourages interaction. It allows time for catching up, discussing topics of mutual interest, and sharing stories that enrich our understanding of each other. In this way, the dinner table acts as a microcosm of community life, where connections are not just maintained but actively cultivated. It’s not just what we eat but how we eat that affects our well-being.

I’ve been privileged to host and participate in dozens of dinners with the Cabin Community over the last two years. Without ever placing foot in Italy, I’ve learned how to make pasta from scratch and experience the art of storytelling through recipe sharing while preparing a meal together. Once I flew with a dozen farm fresh eggs from my parent’s house in Montana to a Cabin gathering in California where homemade pasta was on menu. This act was based on a learning that the creation of a meal begins long before the food ingredients are prepared. Community meals are often a platform for cultural exchange and understanding. Sharing recipes that were passed down generations or teaching cooking methods you learned during the pandemic, co-creating a meal brings people together and acts as a window into different worlds. A simple dish can carry a rich history, laden with stories, customs, and values from another time and space. When shared, it provides an opportunity for education and broadening horizons, and cultivating community.

The act of gathering around a table creates a shared experience that is both symbolic and tangible, allowing individuals to feel part of a larger whole. This fosters a sense of belonging, a fundamental human need that contributes to mental and emotional well-being. It provides a context where individuals can feel seen, heard, and valued. Communal eating often has a spiritual dimension, irrespective of one's religious beliefs. For some, saying grace or giving thanks before a meal turns the act of eating into a spiritual experience, enhancing mindfulness and a sense of connection to something greater than ourselves. When we can implement ritual into our collective experience, we set into motion the intention behind the actions to follow. In this space, the meal becomes more than just a physical necessity—it turns into an act of shared reverence for life.

Cabin Supper Club is an offline extension of our online community, designed to spark connections and forge friendships. The idea was born out of need and interest for creating space for folks in the Cabin community to come together, break bread, and create the future way of living we all aspire to make a reality.

When you attend a Supper Club you are actively participating in small moments of Cabin history. To find out about the upcoming Supper Clubs go here. If you’re a Cabin Citizen and interested hosting a Supper Club yourself, go here to our forum and follow the guidelines for hosting.

Each Supper Club offers our community a chance to put into practice the rituals and traditions that nourish not just the body but also the soul. It is a sanctuary for building relationships, a stage for cultural and spiritual exchange, and a foundation for social cohesion. As modern life continues to evolve, the importance of maintaining this tradition only grows, reminding us to prioritize meaningful interactions and the integrity of our human connections.