Imagine inviting everyone to a party, but nobody accepts the invite. If this had happened last year, I would be in the bowels of despair. But, unfortunately, it happened yesterday, and I had already anticipated learning from this outcome. You see, I was not ready for my guests. If this were a real party, all I had was the entertainment. Can you imagine coming to a house party; the music is already playing full blast, and no one welcomes you? How would you feel at this party if they did not offer you any refreshments? Even if your host got the hottest band in the world to play, if you are uncomfortable, you are not going to enjoy this party.
I bit off more than I could chew, so I am thankful for this bullet dodged. The entertainment was top-notch, but my event lacked the little things that make people comfortable and valued. Sometimes when we are task or goal-oriented, we forget the ancillary things that make an event special. I can be very blunt, especially when trying to get things done. I can't tell you how many times I've called my loved ones and just started rattling off a list of tasks, only to catch myself and say, "Hello, by the way." Do you think niceties are a waste of time? The most streamlined approach does not always work when humans are involved.
To throw a successful party, you need to have the guest experience forefront of your mind. Where will they park? Is there a safe place for them to store their things? Will the menu reflect their preferences? How will they interact with the other guests? A good invitation will anticipate many of their questions, making them more likely to accept. I focused on what I wanted to accomplish instead of my guests' needs. Yes, it is a bitter pill to swallow, but taking ownership of my choices sweetens the medicine. I was trying to throw a party while the house underwent renovations. Everything does not have to be perfect to invite guests, but you need to work with the space and your available resources. A house under renovation may not be ideal for a large event, but it can undoubtedly accommodate inviting someone over for a cup of tea. Throwing a party is a balancing act. I have had times where everything was ready, and my guests canceled on me. Thankfully I am okay with eating leftovers. The bright side was that I did not have to cook the next day. Sometimes our party is impacted by things outside of our control, like the weather. I have been very successful working on a wing and a prayer, but I have to grow up and adult.
Benjamin Franklin was correct in his assessment that failing to plan is planning to fail. The good news is that people will benefit from my party. I have the hor d'oeuvres and the courses worked out. I will start with tea parties and work my way up to main events. Learn from my experience. What do you want to accomplish? Why should anyone care? I know that people are overwhelmed and need a space to feel safe. My next party is going to be amazing. I'm taking all the steps to make it a success. Be on the lookout for an invitation. I hope you will come. It will be online, so no masks are required. Namaste
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Show Transcript:
Intro: Uplifting horns, Welcome to another edition of Things to Think About. Here's Stacy!
Podcast: Welcome to the Things To Think About Podcast where we use fables and fairy tales to come to deeper truths about our subconscious world. I’m Stacy Casson and today’s tale is my take on a classic. Today’s blog post discusses invited guests and our story is about the uninvited guest. We will explore this topic in a tale I call, Emergence. And now, get comfortable and relax. Take a Deep Breathe in and exhale. A Deep Breath in, and exhale. Deep breath in and exhale. And if you'd like, you can slowly...close...your eyes.
Emergence
A small hole in the cocoon of blankets allowed in the icy air but prevented any light from entering the fortress as she continued her dreamless sleep. She was a small girl in a "just right" bed. Dank, warm, fetid air assaulted her nostrils. The darkness deepened in the blanket lair, and she began to toss and turn.
"Baby," growled a husky voice, "what did we tell you about bringing worms into the house? It smells putrid. I will need to beat your blanket on the rocks for hours to get the stench out." Deep inside the blanket, the girl continued to replay the events that brought her to this obscure cottage in the woods. Exhausted from her flight and satiated from a bowl of "just right" porridge, she could go no further. The blanket her chrysalis until she could emerge a new creature, free from their grasping ways.
"You will fetch an exorbitant price because of this hair," her keeper ruminated. She would never call them parents. She was an investment; her basic needs a transaction to preserve her selling price. "It is like spun gold. Many would pay for the privilege of ownership." they had sent her to the market, and she never returned.
Biting down a scream, she had used her knife to cut her palm and bloody her coat, leaving it in some brambles. She did not know what the woods held for her. If they held death, it would be at her hands and not an end of indignity and violation. Red, ripe, raspberries bloodied her face as she crammed them into her mouth. They were so juicy and a feast in this wilderness,
She saw smoke in the distance and tottered off in the direction of the vapor. It would be dark soon enough, so she needed to find shelter. Branches slapped at her, and the many thorns tore at her as she stumbled through the forest. Gradually the way eased, and she found herself on a path of sorts. The randomness of the flowers ordered themselves into bluebells, cowslips, and goldenrods. The lovely path meandered and ended at a cottage.
She tentatively knocked, and the door swung open. Cautiously she entered the cottage. "Hello!" she announced. "Is anyone here?" Only a hushed slight breeze at the window responded. Something smelled delicious. Three bowls were set out on a simple hewn table. Her stomach rumbled, and the steam curled, enticingly bidding her come closer.
She frantically fanned her tongue, "too hot! too hot!" The second bowl of porridge was ice cold. Hesitantly she tried the third bowl, "just right." She drizzled some fresh honey from a thoughtfully placed honeycomb. Her feet were on fire from her journey. She noticed three chairs set around a cooling fireplace.
The first bruised her sore body with its unyielding hardness. The second almost suffocated her with its cloying softness. The third embraced her like the hug a loving parent. She settled in and rocked contentedly. Stifling a yawn, she decided she should nap before continuing on her journey. Exploring, she found a modest room with three beds.She scampered onto the first one and decided the floor would have been more welcoming. The second one threatened her sanity as she feared she would never escape the quicksand of softness. Nervously, she tried the third. It was "just right." She spun her blanket cocoon and settled into an uneasy, exhausted sleep.
The rumbling sounds eventually penetrated her slumber. Carefully she positioned the blanket so that the hole peered into the outside world. She continued to see darkness, but it had a texture, and she swore it was moving. She gathered her courage and tore off the blanket. Her three companions' surprised growls motivated her to run as fast as she could out the door.
That ends our story for today. How do you treat the uninvited guests that enter your thoughts? Do chase them away? Perhaps next time you can invite them to have a cup of tea and understand their story. You can take a deep breath in and exhale. A deep breath in and exhale. Deep breath in, and exhale. And when you're ready, wiggle your toes, wiggle your fingers and slowly open your eyes.
Closing: Jazzy synth keyboards. Hope you enjoyed today's segment. Tell a friend. See you next time.
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