{"id":1525,"date":"2025-05-13T00:03:51","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T00:03:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/?p=1525"},"modified":"2025-05-15T16:13:46","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T16:13:46","slug":"places-to-connect-within-ourselves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/","title":{"rendered":"Places to Connect Within Ourselves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-x-large-font-size wp-elements-aecd510f2c695c65049b30c7729bd418\">\u201cIf you are never alone, you cannot know yourself.\u201d <\/p>\n<cite><strong>\u2014Paulo Coelho<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <em><a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/6694092\/exhaustion-increasing-causes-essay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Time Magazine<\/a><\/em>, we are living through \u201cThe Great Exhaustion Era.&#8221;<sup data-fn=\"6288442b-2a33-4048-893d-5ea9bbe10261\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"6288442b-2a33-4048-893d-5ea9bbe10261-link\" href=\"#6288442b-2a33-4048-893d-5ea9bbe10261\">1<\/a><\/sup> Over the past 50 years, the speed of daily life has increased dramatically\u2014with rapid technological advancement, an obsession with convenience,<sup data-fn=\"69286e2e-db19-4387-954f-be2e6e4d84ac\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"69286e2e-db19-4387-954f-be2e6e4d84ac-link\" href=\"#69286e2e-db19-4387-954f-be2e6e4d84ac\">2<\/a><\/sup> and a pervasive sense that more needs to be done faster. There is a collective exhaustion, something akin to burnout, not from work per se but from the pace of life overall.<sup data-fn=\"637fbbca-232f-4f11-8690-8114072b9366\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"637fbbca-232f-4f11-8690-8114072b9366-link\" href=\"#637fbbca-232f-4f11-8690-8114072b9366\">3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the last five years, HKS has partnered with the Center for Brain Health to explore the role the built environment plays in cultivating a brain-healthy future.<sup data-fn=\"fda800f8-eb0b-46f7-8899-de2dcb7ae09d\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"fda800f8-eb0b-46f7-8899-de2dcb7ae09d-link\" href=\"#fda800f8-eb0b-46f7-8899-de2dcb7ae09d\">4<\/a><\/sup> One of the core truths to emerge from this work is how powerful and important rest is, not only in the form of sleep but also in breaks throughout the day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> One way to support rest amid a high-stimulation world is to make space for mindful contemplation and positive solitude. Positive solitude, defined as <a>\u201cthe choice of being alone to engage in meaningful inner or physical, spiritual, mental, or cognitive activity\/experience,\u201d<\/a>&nbsp;has been linked to improvements in depression and feelings of loneliness, showing the ways that our connections with ourselves and with others are intertwined.<sup data-fn=\"9f12dab5-19b8-466c-a080-20ac72eeb828\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"9f12dab5-19b8-466c-a080-20ac72eeb828-link\" href=\"#9f12dab5-19b8-466c-a080-20ac72eeb828\">5<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Built Environments Can Support Mindfulness and Solitude<a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-8e4c425febe718beefe2c67716b8103b\"><strong>\u201cWhen in solitude, societal norms and physical surroundings can continue to shape people\u2019s thoughts and feelings.&#8221;<\/strong> <em> &#8211; Solitude in Context by <a href=\"https:\/\/osf.io\/ake57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Thuy-vy Nguyen<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/Ellen Taylor-Bower\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ellen Taylor-Bower<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/Katie Yau\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Katie Yau<\/a><\/em><sup data-fn=\"9617bb93-9418-481a-9b16-b1c0bc9e5454\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"9617bb93-9418-481a-9b16-b1c0bc9e5454-link\" href=\"#9617bb93-9418-481a-9b16-b1c0bc9e5454\">6<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spaces that encourage positive solitude benefit from design strategies that slow the body and mind. Meandering pathways allow for gradual transitions, inviting exploration and reflection. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/off-the-couch\/202310\/stressed-worried-or-overwhelmed-soft-fascination-can-help#:~:text=Attention%20Restoration%20Theory,the%20natural%20world%20around%20us.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Soft fascination<\/a>\u2014watching a stream flow, observing shifting light\u2014restores cognitive reserves and calms the nervous system. Environmental psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan first identified the term soft fascination in their 1980s Attention Restoration Theory to explain effortless attention that is mentally restorative. In contrast, active fascination (like watching TV) competes for our attention, leaving little space for introspection. To fully experience these spaces, we must be intentional\u2014leaving our smartphones behind, stepping away from constant stimulation, and allowing stillness to settle in.<sup data-fn=\"58efd060-f216-467a-904c-ad5324167c9a\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"58efd060-f216-467a-904c-ad5324167c9a-link\" href=\"#58efd060-f216-467a-904c-ad5324167c9a\">7<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Soft fascination<\/strong> (e.g., watching nature) is restorative for your mind and improves your ability to focus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Active fascination<\/strong> (e.g., watching TV, phone scrolling) drains focus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Designing with living nature<\/strong> (e.g., trees, flowing water) supports soft fascination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Public Spaces in Which to Be Alone Together<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-6f2acaa323391dc5a2af0856b310745a\"><strong>\u201cSpaces that support solitary experiences in the midst of a crowd may encourage a feeling of belonging\u201d <\/strong>\u2013 Francesca Specter, New York Times<sup data-fn=\"81a22d5b-59cb-4b40-9930-4e4389b9fe2b\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"81a22d5b-59cb-4b40-9930-4e4389b9fe2b-link\" href=\"#81a22d5b-59cb-4b40-9930-4e4389b9fe2b\">8<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanksgiving Square in downtown Dallas offers a rare urban sanctuary. Created in the wake of President John F. Kennedy\u2019s assassination, the square was conceived as a place for interfaith peace and quiet contemplation. Visitors enter along a descending path, stepping away from the city\u2019s noise. The gentle sound of water serves as an auditory threshold, muting the chaos beyond. Dappled light filters through tree canopies and an open sky framed by the urban skyline offers a moment of pause. Here, solitude is not loneliness; it is presence, a mindful break within the city\u2019s relentless movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Waterfalls<\/strong> create white noise that offers respite from the noise of the city.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Grade change<\/strong> shifts the angle of view to see different aspects of nature and calm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Movable seating<\/strong> allows control and customization of space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"991\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718637718-img_3231-e1747091989369-1024x991.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1526\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718637718-img_3231-e1747091989369-1024x991.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718637718-img_3231-e1747091989369-300x290.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718637718-img_3231-e1747091989369-768x743.png 768w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718637718-img_3231-e1747091989369-1536x1486.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718637718-img_3231-e1747091989369-2048x1982.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718638167-img_3229-e1747091873309-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1527\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718638167-img_3229-e1747091873309-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718638167-img_3229-e1747091873309-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718638167-img_3229-e1747091873309-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718638167-img_3229-e1747091873309-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718638167-img_3229-e1747091873309-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718638167-img_3229-e1747091873309-2048x2048.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718638167-img_3229-e1747091873309-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718638167-img_3229-e1747091873309-600x600.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photographs by Erin Peavey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Moments of Reflection Can Support Clinical Calm<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>For more than 50 years, <a href=\"https:\/\/wacofamilymedicine.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Waco Family Medicine<\/a>\u2019s staff has cared for vulnerable people in the region. When the team of architects, researchers, and planners arrived in 2021, they were met with a wall of heavy exit doors, worn beige surfaces melding into one another, and a barrier of plexiglass with high counters. The space was in stark contrast to the caring compassion Waco Family Medicine represents as an organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Patients and staff alike spoke of a need for pause\u2014a place to absorb, process, and reflect amidst the clinical busyness. Many patients and staff we spoke to longed for a glimpse of the outdoors, recalling how the small glass-block skylights of the previous building had once provided a cherished moment of connection to natural light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, the redesigned clinic offers those moments for reflection and restoration. Nurses take their lunches on balconies looking out on an open sky, finding solace in the quiet view. In the clinic\u2019s waiting areas, high-backed yellow chairs arc toward a green space beyond, creating semi-enclosed refuges where waiting becomes an act of quiet contemplation. Here, moments of solitude are not imposed; they emerge naturally, woven into the fabric of daily routines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Smaller nooks<\/strong> create opportunities for quiet contemplation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Balconies<\/strong> have views of nature and the skyline that support soft fascination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Furniture choices<\/strong> support being able to see out and feeling protected (e.g., prospect and refuge)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639333-img_1503-1-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1529\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639333-img_1503-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639333-img_1503-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639333-img_1503-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639333-img_1503-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639333-img_1503-1-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639333-img_1503-1-2048x2048.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639558-img_4223-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1530\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639558-img_4223-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639558-img_4223-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639558-img_4223-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639558-img_4223-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639558-img_4223-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/718639558-img_4223-2048x2048.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photographs by Erin Peavey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Embedded Nature Fosters Nourishing Hospitality<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Since ancient times, people have sought healing in water, light, and solitude. Retreat centers, spas, and wellness spaces serve as modern sanctuaries where one can reconnect with the self. At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lacanteraresort.com\/loma-de-vida-spa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Loma de Vida Spa &amp; Wellness<\/a> at La Cantera Resort outside of San Antonio, TX, deliberate design choices guide visitors into a new state of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A winding path leads through the landscape, revealing moments of quiet discovery. Footsteps crunch on the gravel; birds call in the distance; the sound of flowing water rises and falls. With each step, the external journey mirrors an internal one\u2014curiosity, awareness, and anticipation. Here, solitude is not emptiness but a fullness of experience, a deliberate shedding of distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Gravel pathways<\/strong> engage the senses\u2014sound, sight, touch\u2014to support being in the present moment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Winding paths<\/strong> support a sense of discovery and mirror inter-exploration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sounds of water and birds<\/strong> support soft fascination and engaging the senses.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904922-17483_024_originaljpeg-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1531\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904922-17483_024_originaljpeg-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904922-17483_024_originaljpeg-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904922-17483_024_originaljpeg-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904922-17483_024_originaljpeg-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904922-17483_024_originaljpeg-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1532\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photographs by Casey Dunn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Both authors of this article loved climbing trees as children, watching the world below from a quiet perch. There, we could observe without being observed, feeling at once connected to and separated from the world around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That same urge\u2014to sit still, to watch, to contemplate\u2014remains within us long after our tree-climbing days are over. Yet, in the busyness of modern life, such moments can feel frivolous, a luxury we do not have time for. Yet they are anything but.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The year 2025 has been marked by a call for intentionality by many people in our lives. Yet, amidst digital distractions, speeding cars, and the endless sprawl of concrete, it is easy to feel lost, unable to find our internal compass. In these times, moments of positive solitude act as reorientation points\u2014not toward fleeting achievements but toward a deeper, more reflexive growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The physical world we build shapes how we think, feel, and behave. The prevailing narrative of busyness has dictated much of our design\u2014spaces filled with technology, optimized for efficiency, designed for movement rather than stillness. But places that invite slowness, that embrace texture, light, and sound to shift us into a state of quiet contemplation, offer something more profound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These spaces pay dividends\u2014not just in personal well-being but in our ability to connect with others, to serve our communities, and to invest in our mental, physical, and social health.<sup data-fn=\"25975694-3f2b-4edf-8bf2-3cd1a0d58462\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"25975694-3f2b-4edf-8bf2-3cd1a0d58462-link\" href=\"#25975694-3f2b-4edf-8bf2-3cd1a0d58462\">9<\/a><\/sup> In designing for solitude, we are designing for a deeper kind of connection.<sup data-fn=\"e9fff11c-f460-4629-8162-d8b45bbd7384\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"e9fff11c-f460-4629-8162-d8b45bbd7384-link\" href=\"#e9fff11c-f460-4629-8162-d8b45bbd7384\">10<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For further readings on this topic, please explore the following:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buildingbrainscoalition.org\/\">Building Brains Coalition<\/a> focused on design for brain health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New York Times feature on design for solitude: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/08\/29\/style\/solo-travel-public-spaces.html\">For Solo Explorers, a Solitude-Friendly \u2018Paradise\u2019 Amid the Crowds<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.solitude-lab.com\/ourresearch\">The Solitude Lab<\/a>: focused on research on the benefits and impacts of solitude<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simonandschuster.com\/books\/The-Joy-of-Solitude\/Robert-J-Coplan\/9781668053423\"><em>The Joy of Solitude<\/em><\/a> by psychologist and researcher Robert J. Coplan, PhD<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References:<\/h4>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-footnotes\"><li id=\"6288442b-2a33-4048-893d-5ea9bbe10261\">\u201cWhy We\u2019re More Exhausted Than Ever | TIME.\u201d Accessed: Apr. 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/6694092\/exhaustion-increasing-causes-essay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/time.com\/6694092\/exhaustion-increasing-causes-essay\/<\/a> <a href=\"#6288442b-2a33-4048-893d-5ea9bbe10261-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 1\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"69286e2e-db19-4387-954f-be2e6e4d84ac\">\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC2465492\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Health and social consequences in the quest for comfort, convenience and pleasure<\/a>,\u201d <em>J. Epidemiol. Community Health<\/em>, vol. 60, no. 11, p. 922, Nov. 2006. <a href=\"#69286e2e-db19-4387-954f-be2e6e4d84ac-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 2\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"637fbbca-232f-4f11-8690-8114072b9366\">\u00a0E. Alpa\u00f1\u00e9s, \u201cThe Great Exhaustion era: How work consumes our energy and even our free time,\u201d EL PA\u00cdS English. Accessed: Apr. 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\"https:\/\/english.elpais.com\/health\/2024-05-28\/the-great-exhaustion-era-how-work-consumes-our-energy-and-even-our-free-time.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/english.elpais.com\/health\/2024-05-28\/the-great-exhaustion-era-how-work-consumes-our-energy-and-even-our-free-time.html<\/a> <a href=\"#637fbbca-232f-4f11-8690-8114072b9366-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 3\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"fda800f8-eb0b-46f7-8899-de2dcb7ae09d\">Center for BrainHealth, \u201cHKS Partners With Center for BrainHealth to Help Employees Thrive,\u201d HKS Partners With Center for BrainHealth to Help Employees Thrive. Accessed: Apr. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\"https:\/\/centerforbrainhealth.org\/article\/hks-partners-with-center-for-brainhealth-to-help-employees-thrive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/centerforbrainhealth.org\/article\/hks-partners-with-center-for-brainhealth-to-help-employees-thrive<\/a> <a href=\"#fda800f8-eb0b-46f7-8899-de2dcb7ae09d-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 4\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"9f12dab5-19b8-466c-a080-20ac72eeb828\">S. Ost-Mor <em>et al.<\/em>, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37800183\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Let there be light: The moderating role of positive solitude in the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms<\/a>,\u201d <em>Int. Psychogeriatr.<\/em>, vol. 36, no. 8, pp. 689\u2013693, Aug. 2024, doi: 10.1017\/S1041610223000698. <a href=\"#9f12dab5-19b8-466c-a080-20ac72eeb828-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 5\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"9617bb93-9418-481a-9b16-b1c0bc9e5454\">Nguyen, Thuy-vy T., Ellen Taylor-Bower, and Katie Yau. 2023. \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/osf.io\/preprints\/psyarxiv\/xb8gd_v1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Solitude in Context: A Systematic Review of How Societal Norms and Physical Environment Shape Perceptions of Solitary Experiences.<\/a>\u201d PsyArXiv. January 8. doi:10.31234\/osf.io\/xb8gd. <a href=\"#9617bb93-9418-481a-9b16-b1c0bc9e5454-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 6\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"58efd060-f216-467a-904c-ad5324167c9a\">R. Kaplan and S. Kaplan, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/experienceofnatu00kapl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The experience of nature:\u00a0 A psychological perspective<\/em>. in The experience of nature:\u00a0 A psychological perspective<\/a>. New York, NY, US: Cambridge University Press, 1989, pp. xii, 340. <a href=\"#58efd060-f216-467a-904c-ad5324167c9a-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 7\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"81a22d5b-59cb-4b40-9930-4e4389b9fe2b\">Francesca Specter, \u201cFor the Solo Explorer: Airport Lounges, Parks and Other Urban Spaces &#8211; The New York Times,\u201d <em>New York Times<\/em>, Aug. 29, 2024. Accessed: Apr. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/08\/29\/style\/solo-travel-public-spaces.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/08\/29\/style\/solo-travel-public-spaces.html<\/a> <a href=\"#81a22d5b-59cb-4b40-9930-4e4389b9fe2b-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 8\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"25975694-3f2b-4edf-8bf2-3cd1a0d58462\">\u201cConnecting IRL: How the Built Environment Can Foster Social Health,\u201d HKS Architects. Accessed: Apr. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hksinc.com\/how-we-think\/reports\/connecting-irl-how-the-built-environment-can-foster-social-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.hksinc.com\/how-we-think\/reports\/connecting-irl-how-the-built-environment-can-foster-social-health\/<\/a> <a href=\"#25975694-3f2b-4edf-8bf2-3cd1a0d58462-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 9\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"e9fff11c-f460-4629-8162-d8b45bbd7384\">\u201cHow to Design for Solitude | Psychology Today.\u201d Accessed: Apr. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/designed-for-happiness\/202409\/how-to-design-for-solitude\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/designed-for-happiness\/202409\/how-to-design-for-solitude<\/a> <a href=\"#e9fff11c-f460-4629-8162-d8b45bbd7384-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 10\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cIf you are never alone, you cannot know yourself.\u201d \u2014Paulo Coelho According to Time Magazine, we are living through \u201cThe Great Exhaustion Era.&#8221;1 Over the past 50 years, the speed of daily life has increased dramatically\u2014with rapid technological advancement, an obsession with convenience,2 and a pervasive sense that more needs to be done faster. There [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1533,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":"[{\"content\":\"\u201cWhy We\u2019re More Exhausted Than Ever | TIME.\u201d Accessed: Apr. 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\\\"https:\/\/time.com\/6694092\/exhaustion-increasing-causes-essay\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">https:\/\/time.com\/6694092\/exhaustion-increasing-causes-essay\/<\/a>\",\"id\":\"6288442b-2a33-4048-893d-5ea9bbe10261\"},{\"content\":\"\u201c<a href=\\\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC2465492\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Health and social consequences in the quest for comfort, convenience and pleasure<\/a>,\u201d <em>J. Epidemiol. Community Health<\/em>, vol. 60, no. 11, p. 922, Nov. 2006.\",\"id\":\"69286e2e-db19-4387-954f-be2e6e4d84ac\"},{\"content\":\"\u00a0E. Alpa\u00f1\u00e9s, \u201cThe Great Exhaustion era: How work consumes our energy and even our free time,\u201d EL PA\u00cdS English. Accessed: Apr. 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\\\"https:\/\/english.elpais.com\/health\/2024-05-28\/the-great-exhaustion-era-how-work-consumes-our-energy-and-even-our-free-time.html\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">https:\/\/english.elpais.com\/health\/2024-05-28\/the-great-exhaustion-era-how-work-consumes-our-energy-and-even-our-free-time.html<\/a>\",\"id\":\"637fbbca-232f-4f11-8690-8114072b9366\"},{\"content\":\"Center for BrainHealth, \u201cHKS Partners With Center for BrainHealth to Help Employees Thrive,\u201d HKS Partners With Center for BrainHealth to Help Employees Thrive. Accessed: Apr. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\\\"https:\/\/centerforbrainhealth.org\/article\/hks-partners-with-center-for-brainhealth-to-help-employees-thrive\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">https:\/\/centerforbrainhealth.org\/article\/hks-partners-with-center-for-brainhealth-to-help-employees-thrive<\/a>\",\"id\":\"fda800f8-eb0b-46f7-8899-de2dcb7ae09d\"},{\"content\":\"S. Ost-Mor <em>et al.<\/em>, \u201c<a href=\\\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37800183\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Let there be light: The moderating role of positive solitude in the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms<\/a>,\u201d <em>Int. Psychogeriatr.<\/em>, vol. 36, no. 8, pp. 689\u2013693, Aug. 2024, doi: 10.1017\/S1041610223000698.\",\"id\":\"9f12dab5-19b8-466c-a080-20ac72eeb828\"},{\"content\":\"Nguyen, Thuy-vy T., Ellen Taylor-Bower, and Katie Yau. 2023. \u201c<a href=\\\"https:\/\/osf.io\/preprints\/psyarxiv\/xb8gd_v1\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Solitude in Context: A Systematic Review of How Societal Norms and Physical Environment Shape Perceptions of Solitary Experiences.<\/a>\u201d PsyArXiv. January 8. doi:10.31234\/osf.io\/xb8gd.\",\"id\":\"9617bb93-9418-481a-9b16-b1c0bc9e5454\"},{\"content\":\"R. Kaplan and S. Kaplan, <a href=\\\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/experienceofnatu00kapl\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\"><em>The experience of nature:\u00a0 A psychological perspective<\/em>. in The experience of nature:\u00a0 A psychological perspective<\/a>. New York, NY, US: Cambridge University Press, 1989, pp. xii, 340.\",\"id\":\"58efd060-f216-467a-904c-ad5324167c9a\"},{\"content\":\"Francesca Specter, \u201cFor the Solo Explorer: Airport Lounges, Parks and Other Urban Spaces - The New York Times,\u201d <em>New York Times<\/em>, Aug. 29, 2024. Accessed: Apr. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/08\/29\/style\/solo-travel-public-spaces.html\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/08\/29\/style\/solo-travel-public-spaces.html<\/a>\",\"id\":\"81a22d5b-59cb-4b40-9930-4e4389b9fe2b\"},{\"content\":\"\u201cConnecting IRL: How the Built Environment Can Foster Social Health,\u201d HKS Architects. Accessed: Apr. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.hksinc.com\/how-we-think\/reports\/connecting-irl-how-the-built-environment-can-foster-social-health\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">https:\/\/www.hksinc.com\/how-we-think\/reports\/connecting-irl-how-the-built-environment-can-foster-social-health\/<\/a>\",\"id\":\"25975694-3f2b-4edf-8bf2-3cd1a0d58462\"},{\"content\":\"\u201cHow to Design for Solitude | Psychology Today.\u201d Accessed: Apr. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: <a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/designed-for-happiness\/202409\/how-to-design-for-solitude\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/designed-for-happiness\/202409\/how-to-design-for-solitude<\/a>\",\"id\":\"e9fff11c-f460-4629-8162-d8b45bbd7384\"}]"},"categories":[7,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness","category-urban-design-planning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Places to Connect Within Ourselves - Columns - AIA Dallas<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Places to Connect Within Ourselves - Columns - AIA Dallas\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cIf you are never alone, you cannot know yourself.\u201d \u2014Paulo Coelho According to Time Magazine, we are living through \u201cThe Great Exhaustion Era.&#8221;1 Over the past 50 years, the speed of daily life has increased dramatically\u2014with rapid technological advancement, an obsession with convenience,2 and a pervasive sense that more needs to be done faster. There [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Columns - AIA Dallas\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-13T00:03:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-15T16:13:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1-1024x769.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"769\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Conleigh Bauer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Conleigh Bauer\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Conleigh Bauer\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/99bbd0ffb39edeb3cec493b4b9a7ad2b\"},\"headline\":\"Places to Connect Within Ourselves\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-13T00:03:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-15T16:13:46+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1276,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Health\\\/ Wellness\",\"Urban Design\\\/ Planning\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/\",\"name\":\"Places to Connect Within Ourselves - Columns - AIA Dallas\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-13T00:03:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-15T16:13:46+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/99bbd0ffb39edeb3cec493b4b9a7ad2b\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1.jpg\",\"width\":8509,\"height\":6392,\"caption\":\"Photograph by Casey Dunn\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Places to Connect Within Ourselves\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/\",\"name\":\"Columns - AIA Dallas\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/99bbd0ffb39edeb3cec493b4b9a7ad2b\",\"name\":\"Conleigh Bauer\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6d2fada0b8eacca3973a24ed55e6a47d4fe262ef3ea65062f7dcc495ca8a404a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6d2fada0b8eacca3973a24ed55e6a47d4fe262ef3ea65062f7dcc495ca8a404a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6d2fada0b8eacca3973a24ed55e6a47d4fe262ef3ea65062f7dcc495ca8a404a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Conleigh Bauer\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aiadallas.org\\\/columns\\\/author\\\/\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Places to Connect Within Ourselves - Columns - AIA Dallas","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Places to Connect Within Ourselves - Columns - AIA Dallas","og_description":"\u201cIf you are never alone, you cannot know yourself.\u201d \u2014Paulo Coelho According to Time Magazine, we are living through \u201cThe Great Exhaustion Era.&#8221;1 Over the past 50 years, the speed of daily life has increased dramatically\u2014with rapid technological advancement, an obsession with convenience,2 and a pervasive sense that more needs to be done faster. There [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/","og_site_name":"Columns - AIA Dallas","article_published_time":"2025-05-13T00:03:51+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-15T16:13:46+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":769,"url":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1-1024x769.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Conleigh Bauer","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Conleigh Bauer","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/"},"author":{"name":"Conleigh Bauer","@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/#\/schema\/person\/99bbd0ffb39edeb3cec493b4b9a7ad2b"},"headline":"Places to Connect Within Ourselves","datePublished":"2025-05-13T00:03:51+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-15T16:13:46+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/"},"wordCount":1276,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1.jpg","articleSection":["Health\/ Wellness","Urban Design\/ Planning"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/","url":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/","name":"Places to Connect Within Ourselves - Columns - AIA Dallas","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1.jpg","datePublished":"2025-05-13T00:03:51+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-15T16:13:46+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/#\/schema\/person\/99bbd0ffb39edeb3cec493b4b9a7ad2b"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/719904952-17483_002_originaljpeg-1.jpg","width":8509,"height":6392,"caption":"Photograph by Casey Dunn"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/places-to-connect-within-ourselves\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Places to Connect Within Ourselves"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/","name":"Columns - AIA Dallas","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/#\/schema\/person\/99bbd0ffb39edeb3cec493b4b9a7ad2b","name":"Conleigh Bauer","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6d2fada0b8eacca3973a24ed55e6a47d4fe262ef3ea65062f7dcc495ca8a404a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6d2fada0b8eacca3973a24ed55e6a47d4fe262ef3ea65062f7dcc495ca8a404a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6d2fada0b8eacca3973a24ed55e6a47d4fe262ef3ea65062f7dcc495ca8a404a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Conleigh Bauer"},"url":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/author\/\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1525\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aiadallas.org\/columns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}