To be welcoming

I was just thinking to myself... sometimes we all are guilty of not being welcoming.

Not that we are deliberately Un-welcoming.

But that we are just happy to be surrounded with the friends we know and trust.
And neglect those we don't really know or trust.

Sometimes, we are caught up with our own troubles.
And keep to ourselves.
Leaving people to wonder if they had offended us.

It is afterall easier to pat a pal on the shoulder and say "Hello!".
Cos there is much to say and laugh about.

It is harder to hold out a hand to a stranger, or an acquaintance, and ask "How are you?"
Cos other than the mandatory "I'm good." there is little to say or laugh about.

Strange isn't it?

To have so much to say to and ask of someone whom you know so well.
Yet so little to say to and ask of whom you don't know a thing about.

There is of course, the natural fear of offending, of putting people off with strange customs and behaviours. But isn't it more offending not to be welcoming and include people into your merry making?

I would like to add to my motley collection of pals n gals, to extend a hand and embrace new relationships. Join the family, share with us your life as we share ours with you.

There is a Japanese custom when people join a new company or share a new home. "Take it easy on me" loosely translated. But I like it quite a lot because it says that I may offend, may not know your ways, may not know what is right or what is comfortable for you. But take it easy on me, I am new to you. It frees us from worrying about offending. Embolden us be ourselves, make mistakes and make changes.

Lets be friends. We'll get to know one another better, our likes and dislikes. We'll all change, including you. It comes because we deliberately change our lives to include new friends. With each change, each shift, there will be a certain rawness, a feeling of ill-suitability. But so much joy to have when the new becomes an essential part of life.