Doesn’t it seem as if life moves at a roller coaster pace? We’re so busy racing to take care of our obligations that we often don’t take the time to connect with loved ones.
How many times do we rush past each other, talking but not communicating? Our minds are never fully in the conversation, always thinking about the next problem, task, or responsibility that needs to be addressed.
Family meals once gave us the space to slow down, unwind, and reconnect. These meals nourished both body and soul. ??Now, it’s gulp and go. Dinner has become a pit stop on the way to video games, Facebook, or the latest “Housewives” episode. In the process, we’ve lost the intimacy that comes from cooking and eating together.
Take the time to make dinner THE main event, even if it’s only for one or two nights a week. Turn off the television; shut off the cell phones; and use the opportunity to create your “space” together. Allow dinner to become the time when you shut out the rest of the world and pay unconditional attention to those that matter the most.
For some recipe ideas, check out this list of 25 favorites by Gina and Pat Neely, who hold it down for Black marriage on their top-rated Food Network show.