It’s always a delight to share this digital space with you.
Let’s Set the Scene ☕
The idea for this post was born after I saw a meme about a girlie pop who created “office hours” at a local coffee shop. Her friends would pop in, catch her up on their lives, and simply exist in community with her. Then I watched With Love, Meghan — and that was it. I was practically tackled with the urge to host.
An excuse to break out my heart-shaped wine glasses for mocktails? Sign me up.
Of course, fun drinks and yummy food are lovely, but what I was really craving was something deeper: community.
Why Community Matters (Now More Than Ever) 🫶
So often, we feel alone. Capitalism and hustle culture push us toward hyper-independence. Sure, social media connects us somewhat, but studies consistently show that many people feel lonelier than ever — even when they’re constantly online.
I work hard to nurture my closest relationships, but I’ve come to believe that we’re meant to branch beyond our direct circles. We can learn so much from one another.
We can support each other in ways that feel nourishing and expansive. It’s also a quiet act of rebellion to choose connection and softness in a world that thrives on isolation and grind.
Funny enough, just as I was getting the ball rolling on my hosting journey, two of my favorite internet friends — Taryn Delanie and Tiffani Clarise — dropped a podcast episode on nurturing friendships. The timing? Divine.
One of the most powerful takeaways from their episode was that friendship is a series of intentional “yeses.” Saying yes to spending time together builds bonds. That’s how villages are formed. On the flip side, flakiness makes you a shaky member of the village. You can't be counted on, and it weakens the thread of connection.
Healing My Friendship Wounds 💔
Truthfully? I’ve never had a village.
I’ve sought community many times in many ways, but when I look back, I realize I was seeking from an unhealed version of myself. And from that place, I attracted low-vibration relationships. My soul knew I was destined for more — that’s why I kept shedding old situations.
A lot of this ties back to the way I was raised. I had a “they’re just jealous of you” mom — the kind who smothered everything in judgment. She’d tell me I was better than my friends… until my confidence got “too high,” and then she’d tear me back down. The contradiction left me confused and insecure. I lived in a constant cycle of loneliness and low self-worth.
I also had no real model for community. My dad enjoys solitude — his two childhood friends are distant and sporadic. My mom claimed she wanted friendships, but growing up, I watched her push people away. She complained endlessly about others, judged them harshly, and turned me into her emotional support system. I didn’t grow up around healthy, supportive adult friendships.
And when you have a deep mother wound, it bleeds into every relationship. Mine created a belief that friendships were fleeting, painful, and untrustworthy. I didn’t think I was anyone’s first choice. I expected betrayal. And time and time again, I was proven right — until I did the work to break the pattern.
Letting Go of the Old to Make Space for the New 🌱
In middle school and high school, it was tough. Everyone was insecure, figuring themselves out, and community wasn’t exactly thriving in those hallways.
College? I thought it would be different. I rushed Greek Life, hoping to finally find my people. Instead, I felt like I was forcing myself into spaces that weren’t meant for me. I found a close friend outside of that world, but over time, her true colors came out. She started to subtly cut me down, and I realized — I was in another friendship that mirrored my old wounds.
It took months of therapy and honest reflection to see the pattern: I had been using my mother’s worldview as my own. I was leading with fear, abandonment wounds, and self-protection.
I’ve spent years rewiring my beliefs. Unlearning what my mom taught me. Learning what healthy friendship actually looks and feels like. The shift has been real. Sure, not every relationship lasts — but I’ve connected with so many more aligned, beautiful souls. I’m vibrating in a way that attracts goodness, love, and mutual care.
Introducing: Office Hours 💗
And that brings us to today — I’m finally building my village.
I still have low-energy days. Sometimes, I can’t bring myself to go out for dinner or socialize for more than 10 minutes. There are days when even stepping outside feels impossible. But despite those dips, I knew I could still create space for friendship in a way that felt nourishing, not draining.
That’s how Office Hours was born.
It’s a simple, low-maintenance gathering where friends can pop in, snack, and just hang. No pressure. No decor. No photo ops. Just presence.
And you know what? It’s been beautiful. I’ve even invited acquaintances who I want to know more deeply — people I might normally only see online or wave to in passing. Office Hours has created a soft landing place for those connections to grow, naturally and effortlessly.
A Soft Call to Action 💞
If you’ve been craving connection, maybe this is your sign to create your own version of Office Hours. It doesn’t have to be big or aesthetic. It just has to feel true to you. Because community doesn’t just happen. We build it. One kind “yes” at a time.
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