3 tips for a fun and insightful Christmas dinner
“Happy educated” special edition
You might be one of those unlucky many who have to spend Christmas with a close-minded uncle and/or listening to the same boring stories.
Or you could be one of those lucky many just looking forward to a great time with your loved ones!
Either way, what if this year you made Christmas a bit spicier than usual? No, I’m not talking about adding chili to the turkey, but about opening deep conversations with your family!
I’m a fervent supporter of soft skills. I’ve made it my job to teach these to others and of course it also shows in the way I relate to my friends & family. It is truly precious to enjoy time spent together and get to know the people with whom you share a biological tree and/or affinities.
This is why in today’s article I’ll share my best practices for creating unforgettable memories through the art of communication! This is also the opportunity to work on your communication skills for any type of situation.
1. Empathy starts with genuine interest
To become a better empathy giver, you need to connect with your own curiosity. Curiosity is the remedy for intolerance: it can help you understand the other’s perspective with an open mind, even when faced with confrontation or debate.
Practically, think of a few questions you could ask that might lead the conversation beyond shallow arguments. What do you really want to know about your ancestors/ relatives? What kind of life have they led? What historical events have they witnessed? What was their childhood like?
2. Listen between the lines
Maybe your questions won’t be well received. That is totally ok! People have the right to remain silent - or to bypass your question. They might even attack you, because they took your genuine intention as an attack on them. Listen between the lines - maybe your question made them feel uncomfortable. At any rate, don’t force things, just change topic or put the spotlight on someone else.
But in general, people love to talk about themselves; you don’t risk much by asking deep questions, so get ready for unexpected gems!
3. Organize an end-of-dinner game
Have you ever heard of Big Talk or We’re Not Really Strangers? These are card games meant to make you know your loved ones better. Whether you know these specific games or not, you absolutely have the opportunity to ask some meaningful questions during Christmas.
Just write down 3 questions on separate pieces of paper. For example:
What is one joyful memory you’ll keep from this year?
What do you feel grateful for at this moment?
If you could go back in time, what is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
One after the other, people can choose a question at random. I find it fascinating to hear different people answering the same question!
Let me know how it goes, and of course make use of these tips beyond just this special time of year - they’re useful everywhere from romantic dinners to classrooms :-)
Happy holidays to you all!
Zelda
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In Mexico, the celebrations take place for the whole month of December. It starts with the celebration of the “Virgen de Guadalupe” on the 12th and continues with the “Posadas”, some parties where we gather and strike piñatas. There’s worse of a program!
Great advice Zelda, not sure it'll work with my family but I'll try it out!