Traditionally, the school of thought was that there were two main places to be in life: home and work. And, therefore, these two spaces defined life. 

It’s only been more recently (around 1990) that we started to recognize a third space and define it. The third can be a church, a café, the library or a park; it is wherever we are outside of our house and workplace. And, ironically, it is in these third spaces that life (in all of its mundane, beautiful and definitive moments) largely happens. With the pandemic, nearly everyone is struggling with the blurring of the lines between home and work, because work has invaded home. From children deciding they need to be screaming during virtual meetings to sharing an office space with a spouse to your living room becoming an office, it’s hard to think of a time in the last 30 years that we’ve been more in need of our “third space.” 

I, for one, have never been more grateful to live in Monroe. 

There are so many things to highlight, but the grid system of Monroe that is centered around a square, has come to mind often recently. Downtown allows us to have a place to go to when we need an escape from work and home. It’s a space to be outside, a neighborhood where it is safe to go for a walk, a space for children to draw with chalk on the sidewalk. All of these are ways to help escape what is currently going on, and for many of us it’s within walking distance. The courthouse lawn is, in fact, a large park that has been a gathering space for many. In just the last couple weeks, it was used for civic engagement with peaceful protests organized by local high school students, and is a greenspace for families who might not have their own to enjoy. But that is just one of the third spaces.

The Main Street Monroe Historic District is made up of dozens and dozens of third spaces. Nearly every one of our businesses has reopened. 

Each of our shop owners have been encouraging folks visiting to practice social distancing, and working hard to keep things well sanitized. There is plenty of room to practice proper social distancing across the different blocks and support local businesses; whether it is getting an early morning breakfast with the guys, a coffee date with a friend, date night, or just a bit of retail therapy with everyone at least six feet away. 

It feels like an open secret, but for those who don’t know, I live right on the Square. I have seen the sense of place that it has been the entire time I have lived in Monroe, but never has it had more of a sense of importance than it does now. 

I hope you’ll stop downtown to take a bit of time to further appreciate how blessed we are to have it all; from the historic buildings and their tenants to our benches that provide additional seating (social distancing) and our flower pots planted by volunteers. Main Street volunteers even stenciled positive sayings on the sidewalks last week as part of our “re-opening” and we’re encouraging visitors to “chalk the walk” with words of inspiration or a shout out to favorite businesses.  

Because that’s what it’s all about: gratitude for all the “third” spaces in our lives helping us navigate and define this time.

—  Jordan Nordby is the executive director for Main Street Monroe. He can be reached at MonroeMainStreet@tds.net.