Closed for Now
The Park Bench Friendships is done for the year.
Thank you to everyone who was brave and came out. Many of you came out one or two times, and many of you became regulars.
Thank you for being my friends this summer and having moments of laughter with me.
I hope other versions of Park Bench Friendships crop up, this has shown me how deep the need is and that others are willing to venture out to see if it's for them.
If you are interested in starting one, connect with me. I would love to see it grow on other days, times and neighborhoods.
I hope to be back again next year.
There is a mailing list option below if you want to be in the loop for next Summer.
Thank you again for a wonderful summer Stratford.
~Diane, September 2024
Hello.
My name is Diane Berkers and I've launched park bench friendships to help you and me meet people and feel a part of our community here in Stratford, Ontario
I have made Stratford, ON my home since 2008. During this time I have become a mom, an entrepreneur, hibernated during a pandemic, and walked through a year of breast cancer treatments.
At each stage of my life and all the places in between, I have needed community. It is not always easy, especially for an introvert, the struggle is real!
Loneliness and depression are at epidemic proportions around the world.
We live in a way that limits our ability to have shoulder nudges, smiles and real-life relationships with others.
- Stores are self-checkout
- Shopping trips can be done from our couch
- We can distract ourselves with scrolling and playing solo games
- Community events are less common
- Sitting at a coffee shop or bar can get costly
- Online trolls make it easy to forget there are great people out there in real life
- We have lost some brave to reach out and express a desire to get to know someone
So!
Here are my simple thoughts as an introvert who desires to expand her community...
Let's. Just. Meet!
- Bring your own lawn chair in case there are no benches or picnic tables available
- Bring your own beverage
- Think about a joke you can say (or read off your phone) to help break the ice
I'll have name tags available - (deep breath, they are optional 😉), we will smile at each other, say hello and tell our jokes, laugh and see what happens.
When & Where:
Mondays
10 am -12 pm
North Shore Park off William St at the Stratford River. Between the playground and the bathrooms Look for the table with a green cloth.
Bus Stops: Route 3: 1112 and Route 5: 1230 are within walking distance
- you can be chatty
- you can be quiet
- you can be young
- you can be old
- you can sip your beverage, watch and smile
- you can come say hi, walk the river and join us again
- you can drive past a few times before dropping in
- you can be the first one there with bells on
- you can be the last one
There is room for you and how you do brave ☕
Another local share on the radio and in the news. - July 6th 2024
Our first article! June 2024
Mayor Martin Ritsma dropped in for a visit July 8th and spoke about it later. (See the beginning of the 3rd bar.)
I hope to see you there!
What if....
it rains? Dang, let's try again next week
I don't vibe with anyone? Well, honestly that can happen. For me, if I wasn't leading the charge in this, my default is to hang back and sometimes go home a bit let down. It takes me a few brave meetings before I begin to feel comfortable.
Can I take a moment here and tell you a recent-ish story?
Aug 2022 I was tired of still being in pandemic hibernation mode and I saw a notice to meet with some women for a casual, no topic hang once a week - it was ending in September so I was on the tail end and of course worried I would not fit in. I bravely pulled up my big girl pants and went... I shared a few laughs, contributed to conversation a wee wee bit and repeated this for 3 maybe 4 more visits. I never did feel like I fit in like I had hoped, but I wasn't on the outs either -- I was just learning how to make friends again. Fast forward to the summer of 2023 and one of those strangers became a dear friend, support and cheerleader while I was going through breast cancer treatments.
My thoughts?
First impressions are rarely true, it takes time to know people.
Keep showing up. You are worth knowing!
Park Bench Friendship social media updates can be found under @NestFeathersStratford
