I am not a great fan of watching live speeches, but as you may already know, TEDx Rainier is an entirely different kind of production. The focus, as I understand it, is on ideas, entertainment, and technology all in service to making the world a better and more interesting place to live. I first met Michael Hebb when he invited me speak at an Underground Dinner. The dinner, housed in the penthouse at the Sorrento Hotel, focused on Alan Khazai, co-founder of CityYear and the concept of service. A few weeks later, I had a second opportunity to be part of a panel of women writers, organized by the amazing writer, doctor, activist, Nassim Assefi for Seattle's first CityArts Festival.
This is a long explanation of: watch this YouTube - you'll be glad you did. It makes me want to go to a dinner party - and explains why a good dinner party feels just a little bit magical, like a good poem. There is inspiration, an awakening of the senses, and the seeds of new ideas --- perhaps a new outlook on life. When I gave a dinner party a few weeks ago for two former students, their partners, and some other friends, it was exciting. But Hebb also mentions that cooking for people may be the second most anxiety-provoking activity one can do, after public speaking. Hebb takes the idea of the table far beyond a fun night out - listen to him explain it much better than I can. Enjoy ~ and then invite a few people over for dinner -- some that know each other and some who don't ...
This is a long explanation of: watch this YouTube - you'll be glad you did. It makes me want to go to a dinner party - and explains why a good dinner party feels just a little bit magical, like a good poem. There is inspiration, an awakening of the senses, and the seeds of new ideas --- perhaps a new outlook on life. When I gave a dinner party a few weeks ago for two former students, their partners, and some other friends, it was exciting. But Hebb also mentions that cooking for people may be the second most anxiety-provoking activity one can do, after public speaking. Hebb takes the idea of the table far beyond a fun night out - listen to him explain it much better than I can. Enjoy ~ and then invite a few people over for dinner -- some that know each other and some who don't ...
Thanks for sharing this, Susan. I'm going to post it on my Facebook page, too.
ReplyDeleteI love dinner parties and would host more of them if it weren't for the fact, as Hebb notes, that it is incredibly stressful to cook for other people! Got to get over that, because whenever I bring people together around the table, I'm always glad I did. But it's even better to be invited to a good dinner party.
Hi Angie,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%. I also realize it has been a really long time since anyone has invited me to a dinner party. The idea that reciprocation is part of the deal, I don't know that that is still true. I'm hoping for an invite to a home cooked meal soon. Until then, we have our AWP lunch to look forward to.