Sheila Liming’s book “Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time,” explores how we used to simply hang out, how we lost our ability to do so, and the steps we could take to restore it.
Hanging out, according to Liming, is the unstructured or lightly structured time spent in the company of friends, strangers, or acquaintances. Though a simple concept, hanging out is essential to our existence, Liming argues, providing the space to seek intimacy, connection, and peace with other people.
As our world grows more insular and ornery, Liming suggests hanging out is an action we can — and should — prioritize, even if it means dragging ourselves away from the couch and opening ourselves up to discomfort.
Discomfort. Therein lies the rub. Everyone wants ease and comfort, and relating to other humans is sometimes challenging, awkward, and, yes, uncomfortable. One of my dearest friends…
