Hi Everyone,
When was the last time that you had a real heart-to-heart conversation with your child, parent, relative, loved one, or a friend? I’m talking about the kind of communication that allows for long pauses, comfortable silence, eye contact, bent head or the gentle nudging of shoulders. The type of exchange that does not have an agenda of topics to cover, the only task to complete is the shelling of peas, peeling of katahar (breadnut), picking shrimp, making Conkies, Pastelles, Chinese cake or Black Pudding.
Engaging in these slow food tasks by yourself can be meditative, allowing for reflection and mind wandering; that certainly was my case last weekend while peeling a katahar. However, if you have company, someone working along with you, then these activities can create a space that allows for the meaningful sharing of each other’s life – at work, at play and everything in between. The familial and friendly connection that takes place is hard to rival in very many other settings. But what is it that makes this bonding and camaraderie possible in such a setting?