Identity — Home is where the connectivity is

Chris King
Jul 21, 2017 · 2 min read

As I mentioned a couple of posts back, my twitter bio is riddled with hints to passions I have, which could be extended to the notion of tribes I am part of.

In Leeds, where I live, those tribes — or collectives — have grown to the point where this northern outpost I was exiled to, 13 years’ ago, now has everything I want or need, beyond anything I could have imagined when I arrived with only my hopes for my fledgling romance to keep me warm at night (it’s more than just about the family, these days).

The only issue I have, is that a lot of what is great about Leeds often exists only through the medium of the screen on my phone. Sure I need to go to coffee shops and bars to buy the flat whites and the natural wines that I drink, but then it is to work or home with the kids where they are then enjoyed — the moment, too often, shared digitally with the tribe rather than in person with the growing number of people I know I would like to share the experiences with.

The same too can be said for work. Twitter is a great, invaluable tool to understand what is happening in the world, but it is all too often the default link I have with folk making a difference in my home city. Whilst I am struggling with challenges in teams dotted around the country, all too often people are resolving those same challenges in hospital trusts or NHS Digital informatics centres across the road from me; literally.

So how do we resolve this? How as 21st Century Humans do we break free of the reliance on technology to make the connections, and resort back to the tried and tested approach of agreeing to meet someone, turning up on time and sharing ideas and stories in person?

The first step is simply to make that leap and ask.

Fancy a coffee?

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Chris King

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You can find me at chrisraphaelking.com