Table Stories
I have never thought of myself as a storyteller and definitely not as a good storyteller. I grew up with a grandfather who was one of the best storytellers I have ever known. He had experienced a lot in his life - war, working in the White House, travel, family - so many subjects and experiences that just made for good story content. It seemed easy for him and yet as a child I would often find myself bored with his stories because I had heard them so many times. But he never tired of telling them. I think he was proud of his experiences, and I wonder now if he told his stories repeatedly and often so that he would not lose his memories of them. Perhaps.
I have always been intrigued by those who can tell a good story and who make storytelling seem natural and effortless. They are especially gifted with the ability to share their experiences in a way that captures your attention, invites you into their story, and leaves you longing to hear more. Those kind of storytellers always inspire me! But I am beginning to see that much like creativity, we are all gifted with the special ability of telling stories. The differences lie not only in the experiences that are specific to each one of us and the stories that are ours but in our unique ways or expressions of HOW we tell a story. I have learned through my years that although I longed to be able to share interesting stories like my grandfather, my stories instead would come to life through my ability to put things together, arranging items in such a way that evoked emotion, inspiration, and invitation. Gifts, gift baskets, book shelves, store displays, tables - these were the blank pages where I would write the stories my heart longed to tell.
One of the blank pages that I have been experimenting with lately is telling stories through table settings. Gathering around a table, inviting others to rest, sharing a meal, conversation, and life has always been a heart desire for me. I have not always been the most confident host in actually extending invitations to sit around our table, but my heart longs to do so boldly and effortlessly. So, while I work on my confidence in this area and practice inviting family and friends to our table, I am also experimenting with putting pretty linens, plates, and serving pieces together in such a way that tells a story, that invites others in, and leaves them longing to experience more. Table linens are such a great place to start with pulling a table story together. The fabrics, patterns, and colors can be mixed, matched, and played with to set a theme for the rest of the table. Or perhaps the story centers around the menu and on what you will be serving knowing that the pieces you set your table with become the landscape in that story. There are just so many stories to tell as we gather around food, drinks, and each other. I personally believe that creating a welcoming table and a welcoming environment for others to be in just naturally invites us all to rest and share our stories.
So, as we head into a season that centers around gathering, what stories will you write at your table, what stories will you invite others in to share, what stories will be created, told, lived? I can’t wait to hear and read all the stories this season ahead will bring us!
Happy late summer and cheers to all of you storytellers out there!
Michele