When my children were younger one of my pet peeves was how they sat at the table. I mean, specifically, how they sat in their chairs. They were expected to “sit correctly” meaning that their bottoms were centered on the seat: no slouching. “Put your napkin on your lap”, “sit up straight”, “put your knife … Read more
Often I have wondered how my work as a teacher overlaps with my conversational consulting at A Table In Time. As it turns out experiencing lunchtime with three and four year olds provides insights for how we as “grown-ups” might enable conversation over a meal. Let me explain. Once hands are washed, lunch boxes unzipped, … Read more
My anxiety increases in the morning when I’m late starting my “to do’s”. The business list feels massive. Non-work demands fight for attention as well: book my daughter’s flight home, send the invitation copy for my niece’s wedding lunch, RSVP to the school event whose information is buried somewhere amidst the digital correspondence. No wonder … Read more
It had been awhile- almost 15 years actually, since I had seen my good friend from high school. I wondered what to talk about after so much time. How might it be possible to understand even a glimmer of her life’s journey? I took out my little purple sticky notes, quietly considered my friend and … Read more
A conversational Relish contains thoughtful interactions between hosts and guests. Delicious exchanges hinge on how each role is played. As host… it’s important to relish whoever is joining you at the table: co-workers, friends, family, acquaintances, fellow volunteers, loved ones, for example. If you’re entertaining employees, it’s almost more crucial to be fully present. A normally … Read more
Last minute details can derail us. Corporate dinners, for example, require us to know who needs to be recognized, decide who sits next to whom, and offer an appropriate toast or a few short words of gratitude. Similarly at home we scurry around the kitchen to finish meal preparations. Do we really need that sprig … Read more
Often we become caught up in meal preparations, a “fancy” table, and too many logistics. We let a busy corporate culture dissuade us from creating meaningful social time with co-workers. For some, organizing details derails us and we postpone entertaining all together. For others, we don’t extend an invitation because hosting appears cost prohibitive or … Read more
In this election year, politicians attempt to define the national dialog and convince us to join their “side”. Their success hinges on knowing what to talk about and asking the right questions. Yet, when questions are posed, do we feel heard? Asking the right questions and listening well is how we learn and connect with … Read more
When friends learn about A Table In Time they ooze nostalgically for family dinners. Happy memories spill out, long buried beneath our techno-consciousness. Is it that sitting down face-to-face and enjoying conversation, even if only for a quick bite, seems rare these days? Many of us ate dinner as a family night after night. Based … Read more
Recently A Table In Time purchased a share of a bison bought at January’s stock show. Specifically Slow Food Denver gathered investors ahead of the show and then, on our behalf, participated in “The National Gold Trophy Bison Carcass Auction”. We had requested a Heifer (versus the larger Bull). Costs ranged from $400-$700 per carcass, … Read more