Finding a way to start a meaningful conversation and really connect is an idea I have been mulling over for months. Watching the craziness that the presidential election has brought the idea seemed even more important and really started to come together. There has certainly been a lot of talk about how divided we all are, but there has been a lot of action that shows hope and that community and love can unite us for a common good. Focusing on that good it should always be important, but is even more so now.
The current state of affairs has me craving connection and community. I want to connect with people, both people I know and people I don’t yet know. I want to learn more about my neighbors, reach out and lend an ear or hand to people who need it. I wasn’t completely sure what that looked like for a long time. As an introvert, I tend to like the smaller events and I can only attend so many rallies before I am tapped out. As I tried to figure out what my contribution would look like, all my ideas kept coming back to food.
Food is a topic that always seems to break down walls and get people to connect. Not just eating it, but talking about favorite recipes and favorite meals. It is a place where we can all easily find a connection. In this tumultuous time when many things have divided us, food is an easy focus to help bring us together. Nothing gets people talking like a meal around a table, smores around the fire pit or chili cook-off at work.
With all of that in mind, I have created 30 posts that I will be sharing over the next 10 weeks and added in a little contest for you. Simple ideas that can bring us together to talk and share our food stories. Maybe about nothing important, maybe about something as important as making sure our neighbors have food or an ear to bend, but it is certainly a starting point and a way to get to know each other. Sometimes the starting point is the hardest part so hopefully, these next 10 weeks help you get started.
I am inviting you along to participate in this effort to connect over food. There is even a prize for the winner, but more about that in a minute. First, let’s talk about #1 on the list of 30.
*this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase after clicking on the link.
Go Out To Dinner
Did you think that connecting over food had to be complicated? It doesn’t. Heck, it doesn’t even have to be dinner. I should have called this one go out to eat, but the graphic is made and there is no going back.
Sharing any meal and an experience with someone, or a group of someones, is a great way to connect. Plus isn’t there a new restaurant in town you have been dying to try? Or maybe you have a friend you haven’t seen in ages. Pull the trigger and make a plan to get a meal together that neither of you has to prepare.
My favorite recent dinner out
Last week, my dad arrived in town for a short visit. The quick dinner Tom and I shared with him was the perfect moment to say hi, have a few laughs and dream of all the fun we will have this summer.
See my parents are snowbirds and divide their time between Indy and Florida. Sometimes we go 6 months without seeing them. Doesn’t sound too bad, but it is a long time to go without a shared meal when you have a couple a month during the Indy time. It also seems crazy that 6 months would seem long after I living thousands of miles away. During some of those years, I only saw them once, maybe twice a year. Those dinners with them are priceless though and the ones out are real treats. No one is cooking in the kitchen while everyone else is outside having a cocktail. No one is grilling on the screen porch in the thunderstorm while everyone else is inside with the cheese and crackers. Best of all, no one has to do the dishes!
We only saw my dad for a few hours, but in that time we crafted a plan to try all kinds of restaurants, planned some out of the state travel and had a few laughs. I am already looking forward to the next one and glad my mom will be joining us for the next one.
Your turn. Head over to Instagram and share, What’s your favorite recent meal out and why?
Don’t have one this time don’t fret you will have 29 other opportunities to participate in the contest. Here’s how you can do it.
To Participate:
- share your ideas about connecting over food by using the #witwisdomfood on Instagram
- prize awarded to the best story or photo about connecting over food
- the story must be posted on Instagram
- you can share as many stories as you would like
- must use #witwisdomfood to be entered
- must follow @witwisdomfood on Instagram to be entered
- the winner will be announced on May 8th, the Monday after the last post
- prize must be mailed to an address in the continental U.S.
The Prize:
Department of Everyday was kind enough to donate some products from their new collection
- Culinary Herb Seed Bombs
- Edible Flowers Seed Bombs
- Salad Greens Seed Bombs
- Garden Plant Stakes
- Seed Share Packets
I am adding in a book, Harvest, to help you enjoy all the delicious things you grow from your seed bombs. Also included are a cute rain boot candle and a $25 gift card to Food 52 (not pictured). Making this a prize worth over $50.
