Tag: Friends

How to Practice Good Etiquette

Post author By Margarette Coleman, MSW
Post date June 2, 2023
No Comments on How to Practice Good Etiquette

Handshake

Etiquette is all about how we interact with others. The whole point of practicing good etiquette is to put everyone at the same level, make everyone comfortable in all situations. How do YOU contribute to this? What is your role? It SHOULD be your goal to do all you can to create positive and respectful experiences for all parties. So, how do you do this? Here is some mental stimulation:

Being thoughtful is almost all it takes to show that you care and that you are trying to be respectful of others.
Realize your impact on the environment and people around you.

Pay attention and feel the goodness of the world you are in.
Recognize that many different lives are lived within a community and that the goal is to be inclusive.
Create safe spaces for everyone to be heard and to be themselves.
Participate pleasantly and thoughtfully in interactions with others as best you can.
Practice understanding and compassion when receiving the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of others.

Wouldn’t it be nice, if the world was just a bit kinder, a bit nicer, a bit more pleasant? Well, YOU have everything to do with that. By keeping these mental stimulants in mind and in practice, not only would you be contributing your goodness to society, but you will be modeling appropriate demeanor for those in your presence.

I welcome your thoughts on this topic.

Tags Communication, connecting, Etiquette, Friends, social

Social

Holiday Traditions Old and New

Post author By Margarette Coleman, MSW
Post date November 16, 2022
No Comments on Holiday Traditions Old and New

Birthday cake with sparkler

Traditions are often staples in families, organizations, and groups. People count on certain things remaining the same. For example, in our family for every birthday, the birthday person chooses the type of birthday cake they want someone to make for them. Or every year, some of the neighbors pool their money together to put on a neighborhood fireworks display for Independence Day. And many companies have a holiday party at the end of the year where you can expect to receive your holiday bonus. These are traditions that we can count on, we just expect them to happen, time and time again, with no end in sight.

But as times change, often those traditions shift as well. Maybe due to time constraints, what used to be a homemade birthday cake is now store-bought. Maybe the kids get older and don’t appreciate all the time, planning, money, and work that goes into the fireworks, so we just stop doing it. Maybe the economy changed those annual monetary bonuses into store gift cards handed out at the December staff meeting.

So, as we approach the holiday season, especially coming out of isolation and lockdowns, we should look at some of our families’ holiday traditions and adjust them to the times and to the people involved. Does everyone still want to dress in matching pajamas for the annual holiday card? Do we all want to have the big Thanksgiving turkey and ALL of the accompanying side dishes? (And does it have to be the same people, or a lone person, preparing this feast?) Do we need to have dad get on that old ladder to put holiday lights along the roofline and Christmas wreaths on every window of the house?

This might be a great time to get the family together and talk about the current traditions and how they can be adjusted to the family’s current personnel and situation. The teen kids that were toddlers when we started making cookies for Santa may now want to start a cookie exchange with their friends. Maybe for New Year’s Eve, instead of staying up and watching the ball drop, we decide we want to host a New Year’s Day brunch for the family. Someone suggested that this year, they may order Chinese food to eat on all day and watch all the Thanksgiving Day football games. What great new traditions can be born this way!

Have you made any adjustments to your family holiday traditions recently? What suggestions do you have?

Tags connecting, Friends, Holidays, Traditions

Dining

Setting the Table, Simplified

Post author By Margarette Coleman, MSW
Post date January 27, 2022
No Comments on Setting the Table, Simplified

Table set

“Back in the day,” setting the table used to be automatic in most homes. From recent observations, most families do not make this a regular practice any longer. It has been described as intimidating and unnecessary. What is the point anyways? Why is setting the table even a thing?

Setting the table for a meal allows the diners to have all the utensils they will need at their fingertips. By putting the dishes, silverware, and glassware on the table before the meal is served, there is no need to disrupt the flow of conversation to retrieve or request these things. And conversation is the real purpose of dining with others. (This will be addressed in a future blog.)

Though many are intimidated by the actual setting of the table, it can be simplified to this: Only put on the table the items you will need for the meal that is being served. So, if you are serving oatmeal, fresh fruit, and milk, all you would need is a bowl (for the oatmeal), a small plate/bowl (for the fruit), and a cup/glass (for the milk). For silverware, you can just provide a spoon or a spoon and a fork.

Let’s try another example. If you are serving steak, a baked potato, vegetables, and wine, your silverware should definitely include a steak knife for the steak. But you may need a butter knife as well, for the baked potato, especially if there is butter involved (and shouldn’t it be?). Obviously, you will also need a plate, a fork, and a wine glass. You might also want to keep salt and pepper as staples on the table in case it is needed at any meal.

I think you get the idea. It shouldn’t be intimidating. And it is a great way to get the whole family involved. If you are not contributing to the meal preparation, I am sure it would be appreciated if you took on the role of table-setter. Oh, and one other thing, your table can be dolled up and protected by a tablecloth and/or placemats. But napkins are not optional. They are staples and should be at every single meal. (This will also be addressed in a future blog.)

So, try it out. Whether the meal is for two or ten, you will see how simple it can be. Let me know how it goes.

Tags Blog, connecting, Conversation, Family, Friends, Preparation, Setting the Table, social

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