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While the world seems to be in a permanent spin cycle . . . not just the normal kind but the kind of wash load stuffed to the brim with your bed sheets and blankets to make you think the entire wash machine is going to launch into space – we have to look for the joie de vivre in life.
Making the ordinary beautiful. The mundane a joy.
What if we brought back the idea of Sunday afternoon dinners, barbecues with neighbors or even the whole block, coffee at the kitchen table or even a cuppa in the garden with a friend?
I believe this would require 2 things for starters:
- Embracing a slower paced life
- Being connected within our neighborhoods (because friends connecting between McKinney and Bishop Arts is a bit more challenging)
I have begin meeting wonderful people who I have welcomed into my home who seemed to let go of looking at my non-imported tile, what metal my sink hardware is and if my oak cabinets should be judged. =) And instead focused on the heart of the matter, the connection.
I remember having a friend over years ago who said some pretty unkind things when she would walk around my house. It was shocking that so much judgement about a place I called home would even make it her think that was okay. Since many of those times popped up, the friendship has dissolved and it left me slightly uncomfortable to have people over out of fear of not being good enough.
I don’t think that should have happened.
I do not keep up with the Jones’ which means that living in DFW, I am always looking up for my fellow non-conformists.
But I decided to reframe because people need, more than ever, hospitality.
Hospitality isn’t an art, it is a way of life.
Hospitality is the act of welcoming and receiving guests in a warm and generous way. It is a time-honored tradition that has been practiced by cultures all over the world for centuries. However, in today’s fast-paced and often impersonal world, the art of hospitality seems to be fading away.
There are many reasons why hospitality is becoming a lost art. One reason is that we are all so busy with our own lives that we don’t have as much time to spend with others. Another reason is that we are often afraid of letting people into our homes, for fear of being judged or criticized. And finally, we live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with messages about consumerism and materialism, which can make it difficult to focus on the simple act of giving and receiving hospitality.
There is joy and contentment in serving others.
It’s simple, it is comforting . . it could mean paper plates and paper cups in a corner of your quasi messy kitchen.
When you find the people who are grateful for your hospitality, for the ones that found comfort in being able to put their feet up for a moment and find some peace . . . these are your people and this is your purpose.
For today, I will joyfully be serving my dogs.
