So many demands…So many distractions…Too many options. We can feel overwhelmed with how to prioritize our time, including moments for conversation. Just the other day, I declined an invitation to stop in at my neighbor’s house: the car repair shop was waiting . What a miss! Even for a brief moment, saying “Hello” is the … Read more
Ahead of strategic planning for a new year, we assess last year’s successful or not so fruitful endeavors. We check in with our partners and decide if and how we might move forward. Usually this happens before the year ends. In my case, I’m reviewing partnerships now. The quickest way to start the conversation is … Read more
Last July my husband and I attended our first TEDxMileHigh conference, “Make + Believe”. The experience was awe-inspiring. The dynamic speakers gave us much to digest and mull over that truly our brains ached. During the breaks Jay and I headed outside for fresh air, Italian sodas (thank you Backyard Soda Company) and, most importantly, … Read more
The initial reaction to my proposal was quiet. Dead silence. Then one board member jumped in, asked a few questions and signed the agreement. With some apprehension I wondered whether the board’s reticence equaled resistance. Was this organization a good fit for my services? Gulp. With an attendance goal of fifty guests, we hoped to … Read more
In the award-winning novel, A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara, two characters and dear friends, Willem and Jude, inspired me by their ability to conduct difficult conversations yet still maintain a strong love for one another. Jude, a victim of sexual assault, continually cuts himself as a way to pacify pain. Struggling to understand this … Read more
Whether for work or play, hosting a mealtime get-together is the same: an adventure, with guests to enjoy and get to know, at a restaurant or in our own backyard. Let’s go! Go local! Pick a date. Invite guests. Decide the menu. Set a table. Enjoy a cocktail. Here’s how to launch! The Guests: Think … Read more
An invitation to the member event was sent through an email. It would be sent a second time in another week. Board members planned to pass out flyers. Would this communication be enough for strong attendance? Five weeks ahead of the event, our communication had been rather “safe”. Despite crossing our fingers, most of us … Read more
Technology can drastically inhibit our interactions even in unexpected places, like our neighborhood coffee shop. Yet connecting over coffee offers us the renewed chance to give our interactions more space. Plus coffee tastes so delicious! Hani Yaafori, owner of Steam Espresso Bar provides his take on the benefits and pleasure of gathering for coffee and … Read more
At the time, my friend kept telling me, “Go out for a glass of wine, even coffee, so that you can have some space for conversation.” Although I didn’t listen, looking back all these years later, she was right: I should have talked about the “tough stuff” with my manager and co-worker. When conversations don’t … Read more
The minister doesn’t need to know that sometimes I create invite lists on the church program while listening to the sermon. When I’m sitting in a quiet place, a plethora of names pops into my mind. I “day dream” about engaged conversation around the table with a few or many friends. Although I’m constantly organizing … Read more