I’m going to suggest and challenge readers to form more intentional small groups. Here are some guidelines to establish such a group. For women, I’d suggest the group be called “WWW” for “Women Without Walls.” This is not original, it’s a name used by ten women I know, who have been meeting for years:

1. Meet for a decided period of time – say monthly for 10 months and for two hours each time. Make it somewhat expected to attend if a person agrees to join. Begin by picking up the phone and inviting 9 or 10 women you already somewhat know. (This act makes you the facilitator!)
2. Try to create a group that is diverse with age, race, and belief. I’d suggest every group have at least two members who are from different generations in the same family.
3. Read a book together and talk about it for at least 15 minutes of the meeting. I’d suggest you begin with any of Harriet Lerner’s or Joan Anderson’s books (A Year By The Sea, An Unfinished Marriage, A Walk on the Beach).
4. Laugh a lot, eat out sometimes, call each other between meetings and never discuss someone not present (not even your husband!).

Tomorrow: A challenge to men to form “MWE” groups. (Anyone guess what that stands for?)