Day 179/365 - "Around the dining table"
365 Days 365 Stories, Come, Slow Down with Stories.
“Around the dining table” - What are dinner times like in your home? Share a dinner time story today.
My father demanded that his grandson gets his own seat at the dining table. In our small 2-bedroom house, a baby chair looked more of a nuisance than a necessity. To my father, it was a non-negotiable. He would not have it otherwise. “When you sit to eat at the table, your son deserves to sit with you,” he said. Nearly 14 years later, I cannot agree more!
The dining table is more than just a piece of furniture. It is where days are recapped, stories exchanged, silence shared, and love is served—sometimes with a side of drama or debate! For some, it’s a space of routine and ritual. For others, it might be a rare gathering point.
What’s your dinner table like?
Is it loud and lively, or quiet and contemplative?
Do you eat together, or at staggered times?
Are phones allowed at the table, or is it a sacred, screen-free space?
Do you talk about the day, fight over food, or bond over bites?
Does dinner happen in front of the TV? Or is it a moment of mindfulness?
Maybe there’s a memory that makes you smile. Or one that you carry with a lump in your throat.
Share that story today.
𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙪𝙨:
What made this dinner memorable?
Who was at the table—and what was said or unsaid?
What did the meal represent for you?
Did something shift during that conversation, or was it a snapshot of your everyday?
Did you feel heard, held, or hurt?
How to Use This Story?
A dinner table story can reveal family dynamics, communication patterns, cultural practices, or hidden emotions. Use this story to reflect on the ways you gather, nourish and connect with others.
If you're exploring your personal archive, this could be a moment of belonging, conflict, comfort—or change.
This story could feature in:
A memoir or life story collection
A letter to your family or future self
A workplace talk on rituals or inclusion
A podcast or blog about food, family, or memory
Storytelling Tip:
Think about the setting, what smells, sounds, and sights surrounded you? Was it the clinking of steel plates, laughter, silence, or the rustle of takeaway wrappers?
Describe the people, who sat where, who said what, who served, who sulked?
Remember: a dining table story is not about food, it’s about what was shared.
It may be everyday. Or it may be extraordinary. Either way, it’s yours.
Pro-tip! Looking to make dining table conversations more exciting?
Tune into my podcast Golpo: Stories from Around the World to spark meal-time conversations!
💬 Tell Me What This (or any other) Prompt Sparked For You!
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Reply to this email or write to me at [contact@yourstorybag.com].
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Thank you for being part of 365 Days, 365 Stories. Your stories matter.
#SlowDownWithStories and join #365Days365Stories journey!
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Happy Storytelling!
Rituparna