Invitation #36: Make Friendly Connections
Some of the kindest people I’ve ever met were complete strangers at first.
Over the years, I’ve learned that small connections can create lasting impact. Whether it’s chatting with the person beside you at church, remembering a neighbor’s name, or striking up conversation in the school pickup line—these moments of friendliness don’t just fill the time; they fill our hearts.
Today, I'm sharing Invitation #36: Make Friendly Connections from my book, Simple Hospitality: An Invitation to Add Kindness to Your Everyday Life, because I believe so much of hospitality starts right here—not in our homes or around our tables, but in the moments before. It begins with how we notice people, how we offer warmth, and how we make others feel seen.
I hope you enjoy it!!
I love making connections for people. A party is truly a gift from you to your friends—it's a chance to show them you love them en masse! Life can always use a little spicing up, so give a party! It is a joy to introduce friends to one another and have the chance to start new relationships among people I know. I try to think through what new friendships could form from the gathering.
One of my favorite places to make new connections was at my Back-to-School Brunch for moms. One year, after school began, I invited some moms from my children's school to a brunch that took place early in the school year, when everyone was just forming those new-year friendships.
I try to decorate using things in my home, so for this event, I would put a red wagon full of cheerful teddy bears at the front door. I used a little plastic yellow school bus along with school supplies as a table centerpiece. I kept everything simple so we could all just enjoy being together. The moms dropped off their children at school and came on over! I asked each person to bring five simple, weeknight recipes to share with the group. This would give us new ideas for easy meals to fix during the school year and would kick off the conversation.
“Parties are not just events on the calendar when people will show up at your home! They are opportunities to begin friendships and to enrich the lives of those in your circle and beyond.”
To help new guests feel welcome when I have a party, I try to make sure that all the guests introduce themselves. There is something so important about asking and using someone's name. This part of the brunch often brings out a little information that connects people when they realize that they both have a child who is new in school or who loves football or who has lived in Colorado, etc.
Parties are not just events on the calendar when people will show up at your home! They are opportunities to begin friendships and to enrich the lives of those in your circle and beyond.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post which is an excerpt from my book Invitation #36: Make Friendly Connections, Simple Hospitality, which includes 60 gentle invitations (or chapters) to live with more presence, connection, and joy. To explore all the Invitations, visit the Book page of my website or pick up your own copy today, you can purchase it here.
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