It’s a beautiful day here in Aspen and I’m just back in the office after a blood draw at Aspen Valley Hospital. I hope to have more data later this week or next. I’ve received exceptional care there for six years, especially via an incredibly talented physical therapy team that routinely works with athletic clients well into their 80s, many of whom are fellow swimmers, skiers, and hikers. In the video above I discuss two longterm projects that are outgrowths of my travels and podcast.
More In Common dinners are my own version of Jeffersonian Dinners. While I realize that some listeners and readers may have built-in community and family or have no desire to attend in today’s polarized climate, as I lived in various cities around the country, I increasingly found people who lacked that. While not envisioned as specifically addressing loneliness, certainly they may serve that function along with their main goal, which is connection and communication and robust discussion during a very good meal.
The More In Common Fund has been encouraged by a number of philanthropy professionals here in Aspen and around the country and again, is my answer to an unmet need I saw as I traveled the country as well as what in a surreal way I experienced in my life, as medical issues became all-consuming and I became a professional patient. I ran out of metaphors long ago but as a swimmer it became akin to being hit by one wave after another, but having no way to exit the water.
Money is a far greater taboo than racier and more interesting topics, so the organization’s mission is to provide low-friction grants that do not impact a grantee’s privacy to a few specific target recipients in 10 pilot cites in 2025.
Whenever I question the demand and validity of this project - many people have also rolled out a long list of reasons why it will be “taken advantage of - I meet someone who confirm the mission. I met a couple recently who have a child who was given a challenging diagnosis. In a very short time they realized that if they were not able to help her she would just not have any options. They also commented on how surprised they were by how difficult it was to navigate healthcare, another topic I write extensively about in my forthcoming book.
Given the urgency of the coming weeks I am a bit concerned that I am posting too frequently so choose settings that match your interest and availability. I’m looking forward to sharing actual guest episodes very soon.
Best,
Chris
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