I honestly don’t remember when was the last time I had a conversation at the dinner table, or even had dinner at the dinner table. Funny, isn’t it? For some, dinner has to be at the table with their family and for some, dinner means sprawling on the couch with their favorite Netflix show. The lazier ones have little care for preference; their dinner could be lunch leftovers.
Most days, I sit on the couch with dosas and chutney while watching my favorite Kdrama. I frankly don’t remember when I last had a conversation with my family, and now that I think about it, I miss it. And I believe this is the case in most 21st century families.
Working for long hours, immersed in our gadgets for most of the day and living self-centered lives has made us miss out on the little things that are essential for our lives , but which we often don’t appreciate. Dining together is a quintessential experience for all humans but yet we tend to ignore it as we no longer understand the value of it.
We know that food binds us together. The dining table is a space where we become conscious of who we are, where we are and with whom we are. Every bite at the dining table brings up all prior meals together around the table, in an eternal sequence of memories and connections. It is a place for the family to gather. It helps us take a stroll to our past. We remember the happy, sad, bittersweet moments spent with each other, and recollect the travails of the day, seeking comfort and reassurance in our family.
Stress, anxiety, money issues, health problems both emotional and physical are just a few of the reasons we might have started to avoid the dinner table. But having a family dinner together can do a lot of good, like creating better family relationships, having healthier food options, and generally spending time in a feel-good atmosphere.
It’s not too late yet to get the family dinners started again. And besides, it’s better late than never, isn’t it? So why not tonight?
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