Perhaps after this odd and trying time, we will learn appreciation for some things that we may have taken for granted. I have been thinking about this a great deal over the past few days.
Here is one thing in particular that I treasure.
We all know people who are the epitome of hospitality, who are generous and can make a simple cup of tea and conversation such a warm and wonderful experience. I love those times when you feel good visiting someone’s home and you leave feeling refreshed and warm, like all is right with the world.
Seemingly, they didn’t do anything that dramatic. They picked up the living room or dining room where they would be sitting with you so it was welcoming. They fluffed the cushions, and dusted.
They made sure to have a couple of different kinds of tea and coffee. Maybe they made a treat for you to share. They put aside time so that they could talk to you. They didn’t pick up the phone while you were there.
They gave you their undivided attention. They didn’t monopolize the conversation. You probably even left with some treats to take home.
Whatever was going on with you when you arrived is still there. Yet somehow, in the space your friend created, you found a place that is safe, that is good, and builds you both up. As you head back to your own house, your step is lighter and your mood is hopeful.
Not everyone knows how to do this. I think sometimes that we live lives that don’t allow us the space for these kinds of things to happen. The value placed on expressing yourself through your home can be lost sometimes. There is always so much to do. Having your endless responsibilities back off long enough for you to make your surroundings the way you want them to be makes such a difference. Having the time to create order around you, which leads to a feeling a quiet accomplishment and peace matters.
You see, I don’t want to cram you in between things. I don’t want to sit with you while I shuffle piles of things out-of-the-way so we can find some place to sit. It’s important to me to live a life where I can express myself through the way I walk through my days. I want to sit with you in my freshly cleaned dining room and give you choices of four kinds of tea and three kinds of coffee. I want to offer you treats. I want to talk to you for hours and hear how everything is going with you. This is an important lost art in our times.
To me, it speaks of civilization, gentleness, humanity, and compassion.
When we are all not in danger of dying from the plague, perhaps this is an art that we can relearn.
We already have being busy down to a science. It hasn’t really done positive things for our society. We are more disconnected than ever. Let’s take life back, shall we?