Breaking Bread Can Break Barriers

What is it about food that brings people together? If you feed them, they will come. At least that is what we usually say in jest. But it seems to be true. On Friday, we had a staff covered dish luncheon. I figured that the usual suspects would participate, we'd have a few laughs while enjoying good food and go back to the business of serving our clients. Well that is partially true. The usual suspects did come, but a lot of others joined in the fun, too. It was a great event!

People who didn't know each other very well broke bread together and shared some laughs. People made new friends at the office and just had a brief time to forget all the stress of our jobs. We had an opportunity to mingle, share stories, and just get to know one another. It was truly a time of fellowship.

You know- sometimes it's the little things that can make the biggest difference. You work with people every single day or pass them in the hallway and say a brief hello. But do we ever take the time to get to know them? Do we stop and take a time out from the daily grind to learn more about these people? Usually we get so busy and wrapped up in our list of To Do's that we miss out on these golden opportunities of fellowship.

I highly recommend taking a break in your day and asking a co-worker about their family, hobbies, likes/dislikes, etc. You might find you have more in common than your place of employment. You never know- you might just make a new friend. And couldn't we all use good friends?

Want to get the conversation started? Offer them something to eat!

Let's Celebrate Our Independence!

Happy 4th of July! A day of independence and remembrance. Last year, I blogged about my heroes and their sacrifice to ensure our freedom. This year, I'd like to reflect upon what personal freedom means to me.
I have the freedom to choose where I live, where I worship, who I love and what I choose to do with my life. I come and go as I please, have a good job that I enjoy, and can get together with friends whenever I want. I was blessed to be able to get an education and advanced degree at the university of my choosing. My parents didn't choose my husband for me, and he is now a part of our family and I am a part of his. I don't have to hide my Christianity for fear of persecution. We can travel freely throughout this great land in exploration of new destinations. I can surf the internet and put my personal thoughts out there on this blog for others to read without someone knocking on my front door and hauling me to jail for my opinions.
These are just a few simple pleasures in life. Simple pleasures that I can enjoy because I was fortunate enough to be born in the United States. I'm fortunate enough to live in a country where men (like my brother) and women choose to serve in our Armed Forces and defend these simple freedoms. For that choice and their sacrifice, I am forever grateful.
Celebrate your independence in whatever way you choose. That is one of your freedoms!