The Power Of Lunch

Day-to-day office life is on the whole entirely devoid of interesting conversation, so there was much merriment at Chez Fabulous when a working lunch turned out to be a fascinating and insightful one as well. Wherever you look, we’re all communicating like mad – by phone, text, email – but when was the last time you actually talked about something in depth or shot the breeze about a meaningful subject or two? We’re talking more and saying less.

I’m inspired to start a new I Am Fabulous Deep And Meaningful Campaign, to get us all nattering with purpose, becoming women with conversations of substance. Right now, about the only thing that keeps me sane in the wacky world of nine-to-five is the opportunity to drop my workaday woes for a quick fix of transformational talk.

As Oriah Mountain Dreamer has declared most poetically in The Invitation, “It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing … It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.”

Oh and that’s not a licence to moan. The call to arms is for a conversation you would defend the right to have – something meaningful, personal, purposeful and ultimately inspiring. It’s tough love this week, so say something worth hearing. You can whinge at a later date if you feel the need.

To get with the programme, start connecting at a deeper level with those around you in the office or whatever your major superficial social level might be. Let someone surprise you – you’ll be amazed at what captivating quirkiness lies within even the most seemingly mild-mannered of people. Take a risk and initiate a conversation that’s more than the usual water-cooler stuff. Be bold and have fun. You never know what you might find out about them – or you!

Click through to the Coach Fabulous advice column by using the link in the Favourite Sites section on the right or by going to http://coachfabulous.blogspot.com. For alert emails on new postings, email subscribe@iamfabulous.co.uk. To contact me, email coachfabulous@iamfabulous.co.uk. All material © 2007 Alison Porter. No article may be reproduced in full or in part without the express permission of the author. (Originally posted 21 May 07)