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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out reason events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the reason events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find reason events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Reason Events Today
Join in-person Reason events happening right now
Finnish Language Café
Learning Finnish in Finland can be difficult because Finns tend to switch to English. That is one of the reasons people like our Finnish language café: you get to practice Finnish with Finns :)
The events are completely free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. The coffee is good too ☕😋🇦🇹
Tervetuloa!
When? ⏰
Usually Tuesday to Friday from 15:00 - 16:00
Where? 📍
In a cozy Viennese coffee house: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki
The Good Coffee Company
A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹
Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki
Please visit our Facebook page for updates and changes:
https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events
Guided Meditations - Loneliness
Join us on **Fridays, 18:00 - 19:30** at **Lapinlahden Lähde** for a free session where we’ll explore the topic of the week - **Loneliness**. After 19:30, you're welcome to hang out with us. Depending on what the group decides, we sometimes:
\- stay in\, enjoy tea and cookies and play board games
\- go out for dinner
✅ Your **RSVP counts as your registration**, we expect you to **honour it**.
🤝 All conversations are confidential. What’s shared, stays in the group.
🌿 Small group, big heart: Everyone gets a chance to share.
🧘♀️ Come comfy, come curious.
💧 Bring water. Skip heavy meals & caffeine.
📍 **Tallipääty, Lapinlahdenpolku 8, Helsinki**
(Through the gate, first door on the left!)
**Kind reminder:** Last-minute cancellations or no-shows mean others miss out. To keep it fair, repeated cases may result in losing the spot in future sessions.
If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms:
IG: [instagram.com/miitti1](http://instagram.com/miitti1)
Facebook: [facebook.com/miitti1](http://facebook.com/miitti1)
Web: [lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti](http://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti)
Whatsapp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!
Saraab - We Are Stories
East Helsinki should be an independent country. Where people stand for things. Empathy, compassion, gratitude and everything good and left. Where everyone would make a lot of sense, love and tell so many stories. This evening is about the story part. The stories of sandwiches, liberty, chai, fishing, relocation, resistance, and whatever. Come and listen to some of them with us, have a cup of tea or soup of the day.
If you want to tell a story or perform then send us a request at saraab.helsinki@gmail.com We will also have some stories from the hat, so come-check the vibe and put your name in the hat if you feel like telling one.
Red card to racists, queerphobes/islamophobes, climate change deniers. We also have a lifetime entry ban for Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu and Donald Trump.
If you are going through a lot, we are on your side. Meri-Rastila for life, because east is a tribe, a vibe.
Free entry – Refreshments available for purchase at the store nearby
Doors open / Hangout: 19:00
Program: 20:00 – 22:00
Hangout 22:00 – 23:00
P.s. Straight white middle-aged people can also join
saraab.helsinki@gmail.com
Play Badminton Friday [Competitive Games] @Smash Center
【IMPORTANT SUMMARY】
* The purpose of competitive game session is to enjoy badminton games by focusing on trying your best to win the games.
* You don't need to be a very good player to join this session. Our level range from beginner to intermediate. We will put you to play with people with similar level. But if you are the first time to come and I don't know your level, then I will put you to play with less-experienced players to start.
* Please purchase your slot through this link [https://7538e9.myshopify.com/](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/) Please also read the instruction inside this link, so that you have an idea how it works.
* Please bring feather shuttles to join the games. We only accept specific shuttles. Please read the following. **If you come without bringing feather shuttles with you, I may ask you to go home.**
【SIGN-UP SYSTEM】
* Please sign up and pay through this link. [https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/competitive-game](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/competitive-game)
* We don't use the signup system on Meetup.com anymore. (Neither the waiting list)
* It says this event is full on this meetup page, because I didn't open any slots here for you to sign up. You have to check this [sign-up page](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/competitive-game) to see if there is still a slot available there.
* The background of using an external sign-up and payment system is because Meetup.com introduced a service fee to increase 21% of the fee in May 2023, and we want to reduce this cost.
【FEE and REFUND POLICY】
* Fee includes courts and the work I do to continue this group. Please sign up and pay before you come. NO refund if you do not cancel until 48 hours before the event.
* Racket: bring one or rent one at the counter.
* No matter the reason is sickness, accident or anything, the group or I will not afford the cost caused by your absence.
* Of course you CAN'T ask me, "Can I sign up for free for next week because I didn't come to use my slot this week?". Please remember, the court booked for you is there and it costs money. The court doesn't simply become "free of charge", just because you didn't show up.
【COMMUNICATION】
* Communication: our whatsapp group [https://chat.whatsapp.com/JJQbJlisbcj5YDnlcSu347](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JJQbJlisbcj5YDnlcSu347)
* There are too many spams, so I only accept +358 number to join whatsapp group. Numbers from other countries will all be rejected.
【DETAILS of COMPETITIVE GAMES】
* This is the list of shuttles we accept:
RSL Classic Tourney
Li-Ning Super 1000
Victor Smash It 1
Victor Smash It 2
Yonex Aerosansa 30
Ling Mei Gold
Ling Mei Black
* Smash Center also sells feather shuttles (Ling Mei Gold and Black). You can purchase there at your arrival.
【OTHERS】
* Please always keep 1 meter away from those courts where people are playing. Never step into the corners of other courts! If I see you do this, I probably will yell at you!
* If you have some questions, you can put your questions in the comments on the event page. People will respond.
* If you are new to badminton, please Google basic badminton rules in advance. Serve rules, double rules and point counting rules. You are always welcome to ask anyone in our group. Most of our members are more than happy to help you.
* Badminton activity is organized for non-profit purpose, but I take a small fee for my work.
* Want to restring your racket? I can do restring for you. €24 including the string. Please get contact with Ken.
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdBBBKBmsHqvMyI7t1MttqOxwX8rs7vQ/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdBBBKBmsHqvMyI7t1MttqOxwX8rs7vQ/view?usp=sharing)
* You want to pay with your sport card or voucher? check the bottom of the page. Click "read more" [https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/](https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/)
BTCHEL Fridays
THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!
Welcome to pay a visit to BTCHEL HUB every Friday from 10am to 6pm, as we launch a new meetup concept: BTCHEL Fridays!
BTCHEL Fridays is when the community hub has open doors for anyone to pay a visit, when the active Helsinki bitcoiner scene gathers together under one roof.
The BTCHEL Hub is a versatile physical space for workshops, meetups, parties, movie nights, game nights and of course, co-working office where all the members are building together!
Join us every friday at your convince! Coffee is on the house ☕️ You'll find us from google maps!
Learn more about us from BTCHEL.com
Reason Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Badminton at Tali
Hello sporty population!
Let's gather around and play some badminton together with people from around the world!
IMPORTANT! Spots are limited, so make sure you reserver yours! If you are not registered on the list, you will be kindly asked to leave; this is to ensure fair access for everyone! If you do not cancel your spot, you will be **suspended from participating** for the next two sessions.
We will play in Talihalli Huopalahti from 11.00-12.30
Court numbers are 9, 10 and 11; you can come directly to the courts or meet us at the entrance a bit before 11.00. Please keep in mind that if you go directly to the courts, **do not enter them before our time starts!**
MIITTI welcomes everyone to its events regardless of background or gender. You don't have to have any skills at all to come and play with us, and if you do, please come and coach us!
Age limit: 16+
Event is free, but please bring your rackets and indoor shoes, or you can rent (racket) from the hall for 4€ each.
After badminton, we'll enjoy Talihalli's sauna and maybe go to a local restaurant to grab some lunch after the game.
Warm welcome!
For questions and more information, please contact Alaa 040 5656096
If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms:
WhatsApp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!
[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/miitti1)
[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/miitti1)
[Website](https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti)
Ren Xue Yuan Gong
Welcome to join our Ren Xue Yuan Gong practice throughout the summer at Lapinlahden Lähde!
The practice is simple but yet practical and powerful.
It is easy to learn and will help you:
-gain energy, feel less tired and stressed
-more mental clarity, easier to concentrate
-boost your immune system
Time:
Sundays 15:30 - 17:00
WHERE:
Tallipääty, MIITTI office
Lapinlahden Lähde
Lapinlahdenpolku 8
00180 Helsinki
About REN XUE
Ren Xue is a comprehensive system for uplifting human life. It includes a unique form of Qigong (Yuan Qigong); three foundational theories (Theory of Qi, Theory of Consciousness, Theory of Totality) and a large body of teachings.
It was created by world-renowned teacher and healer Yuan Tze who continues to offer online and in-person events worldwide.
Ren Xue combines ancient Chinese wisdom traditions with modern insights into health and well-being.
The goal of Ren Xue is to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, and mental health through a holistic approach that emphasizes the connection between the mind, body, and spirit.
REN XUE FINLAND
Ren Xue Finland (RXF) is the Finnish branch of the global movement, an organization dedicated to the promotion and teaching of Ren Xue and its associated practices, including Yuan Gong and Yuan Ming Medicine.
It provides easy entry into the Ren Xue system through local in-person sessions, online courses and workshops/retreats.
Other learning methods can be found here: Ren Xue TV, a YouTube channel and Learn Ren Xue website. More about Ren Xue: [https://www.renxueinternational.org](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.renxueinternational.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR06uJQRSC7BE3zhPePQ7X_KO7WXa60cr7NK25KdOqfbSIHpYqBLO3dYgVM_aem_alDR7a6KhbNhG3u9NhCUVA&h=AT18asmYaRkvHCJemaC7rr9GVu579uflDCg7T6mLNodWdtMVhuxwFhIyz0p5ONeJbm3WQ3ZGIwONIa0_pDvih4t9BCCJUBkjhK4BdIMEl4aQ_qPzR5ykW-aiOndhYDPeAW9_2_eWZaMsv889HKbp8_c&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT35KTjVjr2kCnYHrXXjXPxEGFK-RFbZnFVdDmWrTe5WwbSZZ5ulNxFEjPPhejS8Pf4xetwkU1hhM1P2K_ABugpnXL6w-CKE25ARXwtLSexv-4fPJ4s2_Kcqgj3g2XWjCVkPPgcjwrPoNWOvdKa2f1VqyVa-2kcTojodTS3wn9zrnRjZLcG7)/
Museum Sundays: Natural History Museum / Forest Home / Enchantment of Käsivarsi
Got a Museum Card burning a hole in your pocket? Take it out for a walk and join us for a casual museum tour, followed by a cup of coffee in a nearby restaurant or hangout in a nearby park. See below for more details.
[More details about the Museum Card](https://museot.fi/museumcard)
We'll be touring the new photo exhibitions temporarily on display. If you haven't seen the permanent exhibitions yet, you're encouraged to tour them as well!
[https://www.helsinki.fi/en/luomus/exhibitions](https://www.helsinki.fi/en/luomus/exhibitions)
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-
If it's your first time meeting the group, try to be there five minutes before departure to get to know us! Afterwards let's gather somewhere nearby to discuss the experience we had. More details will be posted as we arrive at the venue.
Creative Sundays for Wellbeing - Words for Wellbeing
A creative exploration, using a mix of artistic materials to express emotions freely- perfect for everyone craving a slower Sunday.
IMPORTANT: Registration is necessary and done through Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-sunday-for-wellbeing-words-for-wellbeing-tickets-1982610293759?aff=oddtdtcreator
Words carry breath, memory and healing. In this workshop, we begin with playful games that soften the edges, open the circle and invite for connection. From there, we follow the thread of writing- gentle prompts guiding us to listen inward and let words surface without judgement. In the second part, words take shape beyond language. We explore a rich variety of artistic materials- paper, color, texture, collage and mark making- allowing writing to transform into visual expression. Inspired by art-therapy practices, this process invites intuition, imagination and embodied creativity.
No experience needed, only curiosity, openness, and the desire to explore
**What to expect:**
* Expression of creativity and experimentation freely in a safe and supportive environment
* Relaxing and restorative moments and have some fun
* Reflect in a creative way on wellbeing
* Make new friends and build social connections
This workshop is part of **Creative Sunday for Wellbeing**\- a mini series of creative workshops designed to gently reconnect with play\, expression\, and curiosity\.
Through simple exercises, creative prompts inspired by theater games, and the use of a wide range of artistic materials, participants are invited to explore creativity in an open and supportive space. **This is not art therapy and not an art class-** there is no pressure to perform, produce, or "be good" at anything. Instead, the focus is on experimentation, imagination, and personal exploration.
While the sessions are not therapeutic, they might offer moments of reflection, renewed energy, and a fresh perspective on wellbeing through creative practices.
The topics of the workshops are the following:
25.1.2026 The Art of Slowing Down
1.2.2026 Finding your Flow
8.2.2026 Nature as Nurture
**15.2.2026 Words for Wellbeing**
22.2.2026 Colors, Emotions and Creative Visioning
WHEN & WHERE:
15th of February at 15.30-17.30
Valo tila, Lapinlahden Lähde
Lapinlahdenpolku 8
00180 Helsinki
(How to find us: When entering through the café to the gallery hallway, turn left and head up the stairs. Valo tila is through the first door on the right hand side.)
Meet Giulia Lepori
Giulia Lepori is an Italian sociologist whose work lives in the intersection of mental health, art, and creative exploration. During her university years in Turin, she co-founded an artistic laboratory that became a living space for experimentation, dialogue, and collective creation. Over seven years, she worked across multiple artistic languages, curating workshops, exhibitions, courses, and public events. Her path led her to one-year art therapy training grounded in psychodynamic approach, deepening her interest in creativity as a tool for care, expression, and transformation. Giulia has facilitated creative workshops with adults, adolescents, children, and people with disabilities, shaping spaces where art becomes a shared process rather than a finished product. In 2024, she brought her practice to Helsinki, organizing her first creative workshop in collaboration with MIELI Without Borders during Mental Health Art Week.
The workshop is a collaboration between @mieliwithoutborders and @miitti1
Hyvää ystävän päivää❤️
Good friends day💃🏻🕺🏻
@ GateA21 & after party
Good friends day❤️ Feel alone and no plans? This Saturday is here right about in its usual schedule! So what's better than weekend with some cool drinks, make new friends and meet old friends 😎
Join the crowd to tell your best comedic mishaps and gossips in a conversational fashion in Gate A21. The happy hour lasts until 20:00 (🍺beer / cider, 🍷wine 12cl 4.80€) and we have booked two tables for our group from the main room.
We will head into nightclub later. Hope to see you there! 🤗
❤️ Pottery Wheel Workshop ❤️
IMPORTANT: Registration is not available through Meetup. The workshop size is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so you must purchase your ticket from our website in advance.
Welcome. Sign up and get your ticket from here.
[https://holvi.com/shop/UDUMBARA/section/pottery-wheel-workshops-keramiikka-kurssit/spring-2026-kevat/](https://holvi.com/shop/UDUMBARA/section/pottery-wheel-workshops-keramiikka-kurssit/spring-2026-kevat/)
Join us for a challenging, fun, and relaxing time creating with local wild clay and socializing with friends. Udumbara Pottery Studio in Kallio, Helsinki, welcomes pottery students of all experience levels to come and enjoy pottery wheel lessons within a small group setting.
Osaamme myös suomea, tervetuloa. Vi talar också svenska, välkommen.
Play Badminton Sunday [Social Games] @Smash Center
【IMPORTANT SUMMARY】
* The purpose of social games is to know some people, do some exercise and enjoy the games together with others. Winning and getting points is not the focus of this session. Please play with consideration to your opponents' level.
* Please purchase your slot through this link [https://7538e9.myshopify.com/](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/)
【SIGN-UP SYSTEM】
* Please sign up and pay through this link. [https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game)
* We don't use the signup system on Meetup.com anymore. (Neither the waiting list)
* It says this event is full on this meetup page, because I didn't open any slots here for you to sign up. You have to check this [sign-up page](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game) to see if there is still a slot available there.
* The background of using an external sign-up and payment system is because Meetup.com introduced a service fee to increase 21% of the fee in May 2023, and we want to reduce this cost.
【FEE and REFUND POLICY】
* Fee includes courts and plastic shuttles. Please sign up and pay before you come. NO refund if you do not cancel until 48 hours before the event.
* Racket: bring one or rent one at the counter.
* You can put a comment to sell your slot after the deadline of refund, or sell your slot in our whatsapp group.
* No matter the reason is sickness, accident or anything, the group or I will not afford the cost caused by your absence.
* Of course you CAN'T ask me, "Can I sign up for free for next week because I didn't come to use my slot this week?". Please remember, the court booked for you was there and it costs money. The court doesn't simply become "free of charge", just because you didn't come to use it.
【COMMUNICATION】
* Communication: our whatsapp group [https://chat.whatsapp.com/JJQbJlisbcj5YDnlcSu347](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JJQbJlisbcj5YDnlcSu347)
* There are too many spams, so I only accept +358 number to join whatsapp group. Numbers from other countries will all be rejected.
【OTHERS】
* Please always keep 1 meter away from those courts where people are playing. Never step into the corners of other courts! If I see you do this, I probably will yell at you!
* If you have some questions, you can put your questions in the comments on the event page. People will respond.
* We play double games to 21 points. After each game, please let those who are waiting to play. Feel free to play with whoever you want, but please avoid playing with the same people all the time.
* If you are new to badminton, please Google basic badminton rules in advance. Serve rules, double rules and point counting rules. You are always welcome to ask anyone in our group. Most of our members are more than happy to help you.
* Badminton activity is organized for non-profit purpose, but I take a small fee for my work.
* Want to restring your racket? I can do restring for you. €24 including the string. Please get contact with Ken.
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdBBBKBmsHqvMyI7t1MttqOxwX8rs7vQ/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdBBBKBmsHqvMyI7t1MttqOxwX8rs7vQ/view?usp=sharing)
* [https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/](https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/)
* You want to pay with your sport card or voucher? check the bottom of the page. Click "read more"
* https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/[https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/](https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/)
Reason Events Near You
Connect with your local Reason community
Humanist Community Celebrating Darwin Day
Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program:
Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there!
Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk.
Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online
Join Zoom Meeting
[https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1)
Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953
Passcode: 760812
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York)
+13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC)
The formal presentation will start at noon
Free In-Person Meeting: Get Over Losses & Betrayals, Build Lasting Relationships
This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships.
Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse.
Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well.
Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship.
Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action?
Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships!
Break free from self imposed limitations
Here we will discuss:
• How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes.
• Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you?
• Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it?
• Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love?
• Fights & arguments - what's really behind them?
• What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others?
• How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change?
• Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them?
• How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about?
• How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career?
Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general.
Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person.
Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life.
We look forward to having you join us!
This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.
Philosophy of Friendship: What are the bases of "friendship"?
As you may or may not know--I didn't until late last year--Aristotle wrote extensively on "friendship" in the Nicomachean Ethics. After 69 years the concept of friendship still creates questions and uncertainty. I had close friends in high school and for a few years after high school but our interests diverged and people moved all over the country so it was hard to maintain connections.
* So if I/you haven't talked with a friend for several years, are you still friends? Are we friends who meet at Drunken Philosophy or Omnipresent Atheists?
* Can you be friends with someone with whom you have virulently divergent political views? Sartre and Camus could not.
* Aristotle regarded friendship as essential to a good life, not merely an added "bonus." Do you agree?
* In the Nicomachean Ethics (Books VIII and IX), he claims that wealth and power are meaningless without friends. Trump has wealth and power but seems to have no real friends, but wealth and power seem meaningful to him in perverted ways. Can you have meaning in your life without friends?
* Do men and women view and maintain friendships in different ways?
* Aristotle categorizes friendship into three types, based on what forms the bond:
* **Utility**: Based on mutual benefit, but this type is fragile and ends when the usefulness ceases.
* **Pleasure**: Based on shared enjoyment (e.g., humor, hobbies). Common among youth but fades as interests change.
* **Virtue (The "Complete" Friendship)**: Based on mutual respect for each other's character and goodness. You wish good for the other for their sake, not yours.
* **Key Principles of "True" (Virtuous) Friendship:**
* **Permanence**: Virtuous friendships last a lifetime whereas those based on utility and pleasure are fleeting.
* **Reciprocity**: Requires mutual goodwill; secret or unreciprocated affection does not qualify.
* **The "Second Self"**: A true friend is "another self"—their virtue helps you understand and improve yourself.
* **Time and Intimacy**: Deep ("complete") friendships are few, built on time and shared experiences.
* **Self-Love and Friendship:**
* Good friendship starts with being a friend to yourself.
* They distinguish shallow egoism (chasing honors) from real self-love (pursuing virtue).
* A virtuous person’s pleasant self-company allows them to be a stable, good friend to others.
* Aristotle argues that one's social circle ultimately reflects one's character—a view with striking relevance today. Well--the Drunken Philosophy social circle certainly reflects good character!
LGBT Reads: In-Person Book Discussion
Join us for our February Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *A Master of Djinn* by P. Djèlí Clark in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.
Sunday Brunch
Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!
Fun & easy way to play more tennis (read event description)
We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches.
These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun!
Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up:
https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/columbus-oh/meetup/
If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works.
Happy hitting!
- Scott
ASH UU Topic: TBD
ASH is Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists of First Unitarian Universalists of Columbus Ohio
TBD
Snacks are usually available, and you are welcome to bringing something to share!



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