(Ed. Note: This post was meant to be published on Dec 19)

Today is my Eleventy-First Birthday!

Actually, it’s not. It’s my twenty-third birthday! 

I feel ready for a Hobbit-sized party, with barrels of drink, mountains of food, rivers of dessert and of course, hordes of close friends and family.

Unfortunately, the order of today’s society is to spread out from each other and follow different schedules – this makes it difficult to throw a party and organically see it grow and take off. The amount of effort it would require would pale Bilbo’s fat cheeks.

Communities are not what they used to be. I don’t even mean that in a crotchety old man way: “Communities suck these days! Everyone curses and has tattoos!” I mean communities have evolved with society to be far-reaching categories of people not confined geographically. Technology has certainly played a pivotal role in facilitating this transition, and I can’t say I’m surprised: people need to feel close to each other, even when they’re far away. Why do you think I’m writing this?

I need connections with people – I’m socially extroverted. On days that I feel lonely, sometimes I go sit in a coffeeshop just to feel near others. It’s why I play online games – it’s a community of sorts. Online communities don’t quite fill the need for real people, but it’s better than moping around an empty house (some might argue I’d be better off alone with my thoughts).

It’s why I decided to share this publication with you. I hope in some way it helps you feel more connected to me. I hope it encourages you to reach out to others in your communities and strengthen those connections.

We need more hobbit in our lives, we really do. I can’t speak for introverts, but I am married to one, so I know that too much partying, drinking, dancing, smoking of pipes and general carrying-on can wear some of you out sooner than others. That’s why as much as they love to cause shenanigans and letting down of hair, hobbits appreciate a quiet breakfast with a select few confidants. They grab their favourite walking-stick and trot about the countryside for hours, just because it’s there for the enjoying (they also need to work off their vast food intake). A whistling kettle calls them to sit comfortably with a lovely book, to slow down and reconnect with something real.

The Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, a major Mahayana Buddhist ‘scripture‘, speaks of humans having Buddha-natures: “a sacred nature that is the basis for [beings’] becoming buddhas.” What if we also have hobbit-natures? Those of us who’ve read Tolkien’s works know what hobbits are all about – those of you who haven’t, must. Somewhere in each of us could lie the potential to become a hobbit! To my eyes, there can’t possibly be a downside to nurturing our hobbit-y habits.

So, find your hobbit-nature this week. Christmas is coming, families are gathering, food is plentiful (for most of us), drink is abundant (especially in my family), and the air is thick with love and cheer.

What a lovely time to embrace a hobbit-nature.

Shalom.