Remember the theme song from the old TV show Cheers? The refrain goes, "You want to be where everybody knows your name."

Most of us long for a place like that, where we feel welcomed by name.

The Places That Make Us Feel Known

Think back to a place where you truly felt like you belonged. Maybe it was a church coffee hour, a local diner where the server knew your order, a youth group, a craft circle, or the volunteer crew that set up folding chairs before services every week.

These weren't just places you went — they were places where you were known. Where small rituals, friendly faces, or familiar rhythms made you feel like you belonged.

That feeling — the warmth, the welcome, the sense of community — is what sociologists call a "third place."

What's a 'Third Place' — and Why It Matters

Social scientists, like Dr. Robert Putnam, use the term third place to describe the spaces we gather outside of home (first place) and work (second place). They're informal, welcoming, often local — think barber shops, libraries, parent meetups, and yes, church basements.

Third places are where relationships deepen and belonging grows. They're low-pressure, face-to-face, cross-generational — and they offer something we all need: community.

The Disappearing Third Place

In recent decades, these spaces have been fading. Bowling leagues, neighborhood potlucks, and parish groups have dwindled. We've gotten busier. More mobile. More digital.

Even when we're surrounded by people — online or in real life — it's easier than ever to feel alone. The third places that once held us together have quietly disappeared or become less central to our daily lives.

Too Busy… or Too Disconnected?

It's easy to blame the calendar. "There's no time to join a group," we tell ourselves. But here's the surprising insight Dr. Putnam emphasizes: