Comfort food such as mashed potatoes, gravy and meatloaf reminds me of goodness, a dependable meal of solid kindness. Similarly, a conversation can be packed with goodwill reminiscent of homemade apple pie your sweet grandmother likes to serve. Thoughtful conversation ultimately means taking a “heart to heart” exchange to heart! There’s no beauty greater than … Read more
Sometimes we wonder about insensitive behavior during a conversation. We ask ourselves “What Gives”, what cues are we misunderstanding? A more helpful question, instead, is to consider how to change a discussion’s tone and tenor to something more amiable. In a favorite morning meditation by ”happiness expert” Jonathan Lehmann[1], he offers affirmations to “make it … Read more
Interacting with others is a multi-dimensional experience! On Wednesday night The Beehive Collective, “an all-volunteer swarm of educators, artists, and activists using images to communicate” presented “Mesoamérica Resiste”[1], a large intricate illustration depicting indigenous cultures and over 400 species of insects, animals and plants, resisting global systems. Examining the poster’s details, really studying the myriad … Read more
It’s intimidating to enter a room as the new employee or guest when people already know one another. Conversation is buzzing and you look around wondering how to make a graceful entrance. There doesn’t seem to be a place to sit other than at the end of the table! You don’t want to interrupt. “Breaking … Read more
In Mexico last week, we “hola”-ed everywhere and conversation flowed. With a friendly “Hola”, interacting with new people became easy. What is it about travelling that opens us to conversing with strangers? How might we incorporate a “traveler” mentality into our daily interactions? Oh, to be on vacation all the time! Yes, time was on … Read more
We’ve all been there…apprehensive about a difficult conversation, especially with someone who for whatever reason, “gets under our skin”. Will we communicate what’s true without creating offense? Can we keep our emotions and egos in check? What will be the outcome? At A Table In Time we help participants delve into deeper, more complicated “topics”, … Read more
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
Gifts can come from strange places. My husband recently suffered a second injury within ten months of tearing his Achilles tendon. Despite the pain, he doesn’t complain. He’s focused, instead, on recovering and living! His calm demeanor has helped me stop my own complaining and settle into a new temporary routine. Eliminating the incessant, fretful … Read more
What we talk about with others defines the relationship: “The conversation is the relationship.”[1] Does this ring true for you? How we show up in our exchanges determines whether some sort of kinship develops or continues to grow. “Showing Up” means demonstrating a willingness to be honest, kind, and authentic with whomever you share your space. … Read more
In 2016 A Table In Time worked with a variety of clients in multiple venues. At each gathering, informal or formal, with or without food, and people meeting for the first time or learning more about one another, conversation unfolded beautifully! Why? Participants brought their best full selves to the table, listened exceedingly well, and … Read more