This month’s Quality of Kindness Characteristic is Hospitality.
This is such a learned skill. Not everyone has mastered what it takes to help people feel warm and welcome when they arrive at their home, business, or just an event. That doesn’t make us bad or wrong, it simply means we could use a wee bit more practice. I have a friend who is absolutely excellent at making guests feel welcome in his home. He greets everyone with a huge smile, offers kind words to each person, and almost always serves some kind of refreshments–even if people just drop in. His friends always know it will be a blessing to be in his home, and he makes it so ‘cool’ to be there, we want to go all the time!
Just a little background on the subject; Hospitality originated in ancient human cultures all around the globe. For example, in ancient Greece, hospitality was practiced and known as ‘xenia’, welcoming guests and travelers to Grecian events. In other cultures, hospitality emerged simply from gratitude and thanks for family and friends who attended meals or events.
What does it mean to be hospitable in modern times? We thought we would share some of these key aspects that make up a highly successful hospitality experience:
Warmth and friendliness
Generosity in providing food, drink, accommodation, or something special
Making guests feel comfortable and at ease
Attentiveness to the needs of visitors
Respect for cultural differences
To practice hospitality in our modern day, we can simply make people feel welcome, included, seen and heard. We don’t need 3 letter acronyms to force us to do so. We simply need to stay open to new people, and listen for what makes them happy and feel positive from the inside out.
If you’re up for it, right this minute, take a pause and consider how you might like to practice being more hospitable in your house, community, workplace, or other gathering. You have what it takes. Sometimes a little practice and intentionality makes all the difference. We’re here to help if you want more ideas!
Message us at welcome@imaginekindness.org.
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