Mingle All the Way

“The best present we can give someone is our undivided, distraction-free presence.” -jtc

Greetings, darlings!

If you’ve kept up with my blogs, or read enough of them, you probably know how much I adore props, activities, snacks and champagne. They are all necessary ingredients for enjoyable, fun, entertaining and celebratory gatherings. You probably have also learned how much I love to share…. whether it be experiences, books, magazines, meditations, affirmations, programs, websites, webinars, activities, prompts for journaling and questions for contemplation and growth.

So, it’s no surprise I knew I had to share the following questions I came across in the December issue of O Magazine:

• What are your true feelings about the holidays?
• What is one of your favorite holiday memories?
• What is your favorite thing to do with your family?
• What is the thing you are most grateful for that happened in the past year?
• Who is a person you met this year that surprised or delighted you and why?
• What is the best gift you’ve ever given or received?

These questions are ways to have more meaningful and engaging conversation. We can type them up, put them on lovely cards or stationary (remember… presentation, presentation, presentation) or on the backside of seating cards. Or, we can place them in a lovely decorative bowl, pass it around and have each person select a question to answer. The other thing we can do is just to have them committed to memory, or carry with us, and use them as polite conversation starters at a party where we may not know everyone. It’s definitely a fun way to “mingle all the way.”

I will share with you the person who I was blessed to meet this year that both surprised AND delighted me. Ready? Drumroll please…I got to meet a 35 year old nephew I did NOT know I had!!! My brother fathered a child between his first and second marriage- right smack in the middle of his four children. It all came to light when one of my nieces did AncestryDNA and was then contacted by David, who shares sibling genes with her. My two youngest nieces and I kept in contact with him for a several months until he was in town a few weeks ago and we met for dinner.

If there was one thing the four of us shared, it was our open hearts. We were all beyond excited to meet and were very welcoming of each other. We all look forward to getting together when he’s in town again. More importantly though, we look forward to being in each others’ lives. THAT is such a gift!

I cannot begin to tell you how easy and comfortable it was to gather around the table and share a meal. For me, it felt like I had known this handsome, smart, personable and successful young man my entire life. That’s how easy it felt to be in his company. If anyone looked at our table, there’s no way they’d guess we had just met. I only wished he could have been in town for my 60th birthday weekend and all the celebrations. I would have LOVED, LOVED, LOVED to introduce him to all my friends. Patience, JT, patience…. the day will come!

Darlings, whatever the occasion, festivity, gathering or party, I encourage you all to be present. Engage fully with others, look other people in their eyes, smile, and maybe put some of those questions to use. Remember though, just be prepared to answer some of them as well… wink, wink!

Stay calm, and mingle on!

Inhale Love & Light…Exhale Grace & Gratitude, JTC