Hospitality can be an inclination in some. But, in all, it must be further developed. The dinner party is a favorite forum of mine–gathering people and anticipating their needs and wants over a short couple hours.
I recently hosted a dinner party. Post-party reflection has ensued. I’ve been thinking about establishing some “Cardinals of the Practicing Hostess.” We’ll start with the top of my mind, in no order of priority:
No. 1: It’s worth the trouble.
Hospitality and hosting are worth the trouble. It’s worth a hurried Saturday, bedtime recipe reading, and post-party morning clean-up. Elaborate and simple alike, hosting is a communication to your guests and a valuable discipline of self. The care and attention given the celebration at hand (birthday, baby, engagement, friendship, etc.), is a gift to the guest of honor. It communicates that the varied circumstances in your own life are worth sidelining to focus and celebrate on another’s. In giving this gift, the hostess is wonderfully disciplined to hustle back stage and facilitate the celebration, pursuing others’ enjoyment over her own. In short, its worth the trouble.
The Weekend Design 
