On one of my now-rare social media scrolls yesterday, I saw something that gave me much hope.
Someone, probably several someones, set a blocks-long dinner table in a public space, complete with linens, proper dishes and flowers, then invited folks from the neighborhood to come eat.
And they came. Old folks, young folks, business owners, neighbors, cops, moms and dads, all gathered to share a meal together. What a simple thing. Who was behind it? I don't know, because like a dummy I didn't save the post, but in searching for it again, I found out a lot of people are doing it.
I am here for it!
Some are doing it as a business. Some restaurants have started nights where they seat strangers together at communal tables, and some people are doing it just to weave better social fabric.
We've been doing it for years with something I call Love Dinner.
Stanley Tucci, in his recent National Geographic special, highlighted a giant community meal in Sienna Italy. There, folks believe in a concept of 'contrade' which means you always belong within earshot of your bell tower. Twice yearly they celebrate that by taking over the streets and hosting 1000 people for dinner.
Does this make your heart happy?
The idea of gathering with your neighbors for a meal, in your contrade, with no agenda but to break bread? With people who are the same or different? With those in need or plenty? What might come of such a gathering where you believe you belong?
Feels very human in the best way, doesn't it?
I wonder what friendships are made at those tables? What romances? What ruptures are repaired? Understandings reached?
Over something as simple as dinner.
It doesn't happen by itself though.
Someone decided to do it, worked through all the reasons it was impossible, then made the risotto. It takes courage and willingness to make something that doesn't exist anywhere but as a possibility in your mind.
Wouldn't now be a good time to get that thing out of your mind and into the world?
That's why next week, I'm hosting a brand new live training called Managing Midlife in a World Gone Wild. Oct 15, 16, & 19th at 7CST. We're going to talk about the unique contribution you can make, and your role as a wise elder. Plus I'll teach you the nervous system regulation required to stay steady in a careening world.
I get it, midlife can be rough
And if you listen to the dominant culture, it's easy to believe it's nothing but a decline - take a seat, raise your grandbabies and play golf.
Nothing wrong with grandbabies and golf of course, but what if the idea simmering on your back burner is more like founding The Longest Table and teaching people how to host one. These folks did one in Roseburg, Oregon. Their table was 2 blocks long and had 500 people at it.
What if your idea is to like a storytime fairy Godmother to help littles learn to read. Think your local library could use that?
What if it's to start a justice moment in your church. To get people serious about the poor, the widow, the immigrant, the orphan?
What if it's....you get the idea.
What I believe
You are a singular creation in the known universe, and even if something has been done before, it hasn't been done by you yet.
In midlife, if you hold on to hope that there's something fascinating on the other side of your deconstruction, like the caterpillar does in the cocoon, what might you create?
How satisfying would it be to use your half century of skills and wisdom to make something singular - books, art, music, magic?
Many moons ago
I figured out the purpose of my second half, is helping you get into yours. That's a worthy aim and I'm good at it.
Sometimes that means we go on retreats together, or host local love dinners, or contribute our time and talent in some other way.
But first we have to deconstruct what was, in order to allow what's next to emerge, and maybe you need a hand with that. That's why I built Midlife Reinvention Lab, my signature course that reopens in a few weeks.
But first let's chat about all this, because the world is different now than it was a year ago, and long tables might be more important than ever.
Join me LIVE on October 15, 16, 19th at 7CST for my brand new workshop Managing Midlife in a World Gone Wild. Register Here!
Have a beautiful week!
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