being welcomed

My friend Dan (half) jokes about how he has the spiritual gift of receiving hospitality. After visiting lots of people with him, I think he's onto something. He enthusiastically eats and drinks what he's offered and I think it honours the hosts.

My natural tendency is the opposite of Dan's - I can feel and act as though my presence is a nuisance and that it's better to minimize my use of people's time, resources and energy.

After a week in Auckland among incredibly hospitable new friends, I've begun to learn to simply accept the gifts that are extended.

Being connected to a worldwide family of (former) co-workers, my landing was incredibly soft and I was warmly welcomed. People took time to help me get set up, hosted me in their homes, gave me small welcome gifts, treated me to meals, spent time talking with and orienting me, and generally absorbed me into their lives.

When I felt badly about what they were expending (money, time, space, ...) I thought about how while it's "better to give than to receive," someone has to be on the receiving end! And this is a big area of growth for me - to break through my fear of imposing on people. Perhaps more on that another time.

For now, I'll be practicing being welcomed and know that there will be ample opportunity for me to reciprocate.