Perhaps it never went away, but front porch sitting needs to be revived. A pastime that seems like it’s from another lifetime, front porch sitting is the simple habit of setting up a comfy seat on your front porch, patio, or balcony and observing the world around you. Or maybe you have a few friends over and you all settle in for a lemonade and a good chat. The point is, we at AmericanMom declare that the front porch sitting revival is upon us, and we should all embrace it with open arms.

Why Front Porch Sitting?

You might be asking, “What’s bringing this on? Why do you care about sitting on the front porch?” Easy; because it’s a seemingly long-lost foundation of slow living. 

Picture this: You have nowhere to be, you’re not stressed, you’re not running around, you’re not filling your time with unfulfilling busy-ness. You’re just sitting on your front porch with a glass of iced tea or lemonade, maybe a good book or a few guests. You’re people watching, enjoying the bushes, the birds, the squirrels, or just watching the comings and goings of the neighbors. You’re getting fresh air and allowing yourself a moment of calm to enjoy the world around you.

Maybe as someone walks by you say “Hello” and offer them a glass and a seat, or just make contact with someone else. You live outside yourself on the front porch, reconnecting to the flora and fauna of your neighborhood.

It might seem silly, maybe even a little like a waste of time, but there once was an attitude in society that fostered front porch sitting as a valid past-time. That attitude went somewhere. It seems to have been swallowed whole by technology, hustle culture, and something mysterious that has made it common to not even know your neighbors, let alone speak to them. 

We don’t take moments to breathe anymore. We don’t find a minute to sit and do nothing and just enjoy our surroundings anymore. That’s why we’ve latched onto the revival of front porch sitting; because we want you to stop and observe, step away from your day, take deep breaths, and enjoy good company without any extracurriculars or expectations thrown in.

The Power of Observation

When was the last time you sat still, or rocked quietly in a rocking chair, and just looked at things? These days we are plagued by rapid social media scrolling, constant invading noise, unnatural light, the constant presence of strangers through the internet, and the pressure to never stop moving. 

It seems we’ve almost lost the ability to stand still and simply absorb the natural flow of life around us. 

The power of observation is finding a deeper connection to your surroundings. We have so many things separating us from each other and the beautiful creation around us that a handful of minutes taking it all in can feel wrong. But the truth is that it’s a salve to the loneliness and disconnectedness plaguing this modern age. 

Maybe you’re not a people-watching kind of person. Grab a book, or gather a few friends (or, even better, neighbors) and have a front porch chat. Listen to some music, knit, paint, or write. The point is, go outside, step away from technology, sit on your front porch, and just exist in the world that surrounds you. 

Don’t have a front porch? Set up chairs in the lawn, or head out back to the back patio. There’s no excuse. Grab a patch of land and make the most of what you have. 

Revival

In some parts of the world, the art of front porch sitting might still be strong—I’m thinking of the South (any Southerners willing to chime in?)—but in many places you almost never see people just sitting outside and enjoying the view.

Reviving the art in all places might just be what we all need to heal the gaping divides that have grown over the past few years. It might be what brings communities together again. It might be what helps you find a slower pace, a calmer mindset, a new favorite hobby, and a couple new friends. It might help you reconnect, steady your nerves, reset your circadian rhythms, and limit your screen time. Maybe you’ll build family memories, strengthen your marriage, and find the time to call a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in a while. 

We are all blessed with a limited amount of time on this earth. Let’s take a moment to stop and be still in it. Let’s observe with all our senses and leave the overwhelm of constant noise behind us. Let’s revive front porch sitting!