Different Lives, Shared Questions

Life questions, personal experiences, and getting to know each other 🌱

What makes a place feel like home? How much of what we call common sense depends on where we grew up? How can two people remember the same moment so differently?

Each gathering starts with a question about how we live. We bring in examples from our own lives, ask each other questions, and see what changes when we look at the same thing from different perspectives.

You might recognise something in another person’s story, encounter a perspective you hadn’t considered, or find yourself questioning something you thought you’d already figured out.

We started this group because we enjoy these conversations and want to meet people who enjoy them too. We hope that exploring things together, and returning over time, will give us a chance to get to know each other.

💬 What we’ll explore
Our questions sit somewhere between philosophy, psychology, and everyday life. Our questions sit somewhere between philosophy, psychology, and everyday life: relationships, belonging, values, expectations, uncertainty, and the choices we make.

We’re interested in both your perspective and what has shaped it. How have you experienced this? What made it difficult? Has your understanding changed?

Philosophical ideas, research, and things you’ve read are welcome. If you bring in a reference, explain the idea in your own words so everyone can join in.

☕ What to expect

• Small gatherings in Paris, in English.
• One theme for each event, introduced through a question or short activity. No homework required.
• Prompts that bring the question into our lives, with room for different experiences and interpretations.
• A facilitated exchange. We’ll ask follow-up questions, connect contributions, and help everyone have space to speak.
• An optional meal afterwards for anyone who wants to stay.
• Familiar faces over time. Repeat attendance is encouraged.

🌿 This group might be for you if:

• You want to get to know people through how they think, what they’ve experienced, and what matters to them.
• You enjoy moving between personal stories and bigger questions.
• You’re willing to share something of yourself, including ideas you’re still thinking through.
• You’re curious about what people from different backgrounds make of experiences you might recognise.
• You enjoy asking questions and following a conversation somewhere you didn’t expect.

🚫This group might not be for you if:

• You prefer discussions that stay abstract.
• You want an open session where everyone takes a turn talking about whatever is on their mind. We’ll have a shared question to explore together.
• You’re mainly interested in debating, persuading, or teaching others your way of seeing things.
• You’re looking for political discussion or a place to promote religious beliefs.

You choose how much to share and can always pass on a question. An everyday observation can give us plenty to talk about.

📌A few simple rules

• No political talk or promotion of religious beliefs.
• Listen, take turns, and leave room for others. Hosts may step in to keep the conversation moving.
• Respect boundaries and privacy. Ask before offering advice, and keep other people’s personal stories within the group.
• Only attend with a confirmed place, arrive on time, and cancel promptly if you can’t come.

We’ll adjust the format as we learn what works. Come with something to share, something to wonder about, and an interest in the people around the table.