90 Seconds to Be Inspired, Learn & Connect

Friends, let me start by saying, I’m so grateful for you! You read my newsletter, you share feedback, and you enhance this community! THANK YOU. This is a special edition of Time For Joy, focused on giving thanks. And since I’m writing this t-minus 48 hours til turkey day, this is an abbreviated version. Mama’s gotta get baking. Speaking of moms…

My mom is an OG facilitator. Every Thanksgiving, Christmas, or really any time we sit down to eat with a group, she’d mischievously say, “Look under your plates!!!”

We would lift them up and see a deep, intense, personal question written on a piece of paper.

This is how I react when I see that tiny intense question under my plate. Every time.

Everyone else at the table, though, gives off these vibes…

“Forced fun”, as one of my clients calls it. Maybe. But effective forced fun. I promise you, simple prompts under a plate can be a very interesting and fun way to kick off your gatherings!

The amazing Priya Parker validates my point: 

“Your opening needs to be a kind of pleasant shock therapy. It should grab people. And in grabbing them, it should both awe the guests and honor them. It must plant in them the paradoxical feeling of being totally welcomed and deeply grateful to be there.”

― Priya Parker, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters

I wrote about this in a previous edition of Time for Joy - why connection is so important before content!

Need some inspiration on questions to ask? Here are a few to get you started:

You can also buy this amazing deck of questions to keep the conversations going all season long! Table Topics Holiday Edition

And don’t forget the music! (This is my playlist that should appeal to multiple generations of guests).

I’m extra grateful this year for a few key reasons. I have two amazing kids, I have a supportive partner, I have a business of my own, and after YEARS of deliberation, we bought a home on Isle of Palms that we are fixing up and will move into this Spring. My heart is full.

I’ve also burst into tears a few times over the last few days and then just…kept crying. 

One of my dearest friends, Karen Giambrone, spent many Thanksgivings with Kellen and I. She passed away a few years ago after a multi-year battle with cancer. She’s the inspiration behind this newsletter (you can watch my video on this here). Karen and I shared a love for Broadway and saw many shows together. One of our favorites was Wicked, so I’ll be seeing the movie this Friday, singing loudly in Karen’s honor. And let’s be honest, the movie soundtrack may be better than Broadway!!!

In the words of my friend Kelly, hold your family (and friends) tight. The holidays can be challenging. Be good to each other. 

And if you’re feeling crafty, some more forced fun : )

Help expand my inner circle!

My company, ScaleJOY, has delivered quality experiences to hundreds of clients and has grown solely by word of mouth referrals. Spread the joy by sharing this newsletter, or connect them directly to me for leadership development, coaching, or offsite facilitation. Thank you for your continued support!