When we were younger, the world was our oyster. We could go anywhere, do anything. Silly things like money didn’t bind us, or what was close. Everything was within our reach. We had the privilege of having a space where we could just go and exist. No worries about the cost or how to get there, because it was so easily accessible. 

Unfortunately, as we aged, those places became extinct. The idea of a space dedicated solely to hosting a group of people, not motivated by profit or making money, is laughable now. Who can afford that, in this economy, not to make money? To be open with no other goal than to create an area where people can gather just for the sake of it? Third spaces used to offer that. There was an opening in the community for individuals to go and disconnect from their regular schedules and routines. To step out of themselves and into an impartial space, one open for everyone and everything. 

What is a third space? A third space is a social gathering area that is separate from home, your first place, and your work, your second place. A third place is necessary for building a strong sense of community, and for your own well-being. They usually take form in parks, libraries, and other neutral spaces; they are meant to be accessible and safe for everyone.

They can help cure loneliness and foster social interaction, creating opportunities to connect with people that you otherwise would not have had. Third spaces prioritize relaxation and emotional relief, a sort of escape from an extremely stressful life. 

A Quick History Lesson

The third space was born in 1989, by sociologist Ray Oldenburg. He deemed places like cafes and taverns a ‘third space,’ vital for growing a community and a peaceful society. Areas like these are meant to step in, a home away from home, in a way. Third spaces are like a ‘societal glue,’ encouraging social connection, interaction with others, and regular attendance. In ’89, they were almost required to help the growth of civic engagement among neighborhoods. But it goes back more than just the late 1900s. Third spaces were around during ancient Greek and Roman times, taking place as bathhouses and marketplaces. As humans, we strive for a space with low commitment. A space we don’t have to worry about being in, and the expectations that come along with it. We are born to co-exist naturally and without obstacles. A third space provides that for us. 

Most of all, third spaces are free. You do not need a membership. You do not need to pay to get in. Overwhelmingly, you won’t need to pay at all. For a space to be accessible for all, exclusive to none, it has to appeal to those at every socioeconomic level. People of every background and identity. What is a third space? Neutral. A third space is neutral. 

To exist in this world, there is always an unwritten but supposedly known social contract we must follow. What is appropriate to wear, the proper tone and volume, even as far as what you can talk about, or what you can look like. 

What is a third space? Safe. A third space is a safe space for everyone to join together. Where we are all equals. There is no hierarchy; nothing matters other than that we are humans alike, in one place together.

The Potential Goodbye

Capitalism has overtaken the human race. Everything we do is motivated by profit margins. What will generate the most money? What will create a more attractive outcome, financially? Our ability to exist freely has, seemingly, expired. 

To be able to host or create a third space and design it to be free or low cost requires significant financial support that is steadily quickly decreasing. A quick cup of coffee could cost at least ten dollars now. Libraries are losing funding necessary to keep them alive. Parks aren’t being maintained the way they used to be. They way they need to be. 

We are being conditioned to be unsatisfied with such menial activities anyway. Sitting at a coffee shop for a few hours with friends is unnerving; that’s too long to be doing nothing. With how costs are rising, time is money. And if I’m going to spend it, it needs to be worth it. Not on some silly drink or doing a silly activity. No matter how good it is for my mental health. Hustle culture and an increase of commercial shopping has detered people from feeling they have any time to spare relaxing. 

Accessibility has also been reduced substantially. Many of us can no longer say we live in a walkable community. Everything needs a car to be able to get to. Public spaces are deemed unworthy now, being replaced by businesses, parking garages, or just more street. The beauty of a third space was that it was accessible. But that was a thing of the past; if you can’t drive to it, it seems you can’t go at all. And such a twist of events is more than just losing a hang-out place for your friends. It’s your mental state. It’s your happiness and your inner peace. The death of third spaces has heightened lonliness and isolation among communities, with 73 percent of Gen Z sharing that a lack of these spaces has attributed to mental health struggles.

For a naturally social species, less community and social engagment is detrimental to our health. Less contact with others leads to more unhappiness, anxiety, and general depression. The gradual privatization of just having fun, and the theft of community spaces from people is negligent, and is driven by greed.  

Despite the dwindling official third spaces, it should not discourage you from establishing your own. We all deserve to have a private corner in our world where we can go and exhale. Regardless of what it is, as long as it’s good enough for you, that’s all that matters.