Ready, set, action! Jay and I were at the altar. We were exchanging our marriage vows. In the middle of the exchange, Jay paused. Or did he? My eyes widened. Panic set in. Had Jay forgotten what to say? Although they’re an important part of interacting with others, pauses in conversation sometimes cause discomfort. This … 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
Although some consider me an extrovert, over the years I’ve become more introverted. That’s not to say “I want to be alone” is an everyday refrain. Quiet is just difficult to find in our digitally loud world. Perhaps almost more challenging is walking into a room full of people we don’t know, strangers. Small talk … Read more
Groundhog Day and me don’t get along. This holiday was just “observed” on Feb. 2nd. For the full 4th grade year, Lisa Figuro called me a “groundhog” almost everyday. It was my first experience with bullying. I’m done talking about it! Further, at A Table In Time, we like winter and many states benefit from … Read more
More than once, A Table In Time dinner guests have commented that they’re unsure how to pick engaging conversation topics for their gatherings. Although this list only scratches the surface, here’s “what we might talk about” in January! New beginnings– it’s not too late to make some adjustments to how you want to live your … Read more