Do you butter your Marie biscuits?

Do you butter your Marie biscuits?

We recently hosted a lovely workshop. The purpose was to create an opportunity for colleagues to get to know each other better by sharing a memory. It took the format of a show-and-tell. Everyone brought in something they enjoy eating and have a fond memory of.

Although they come from very different backgrounds, and places and vary in age, their stories all have a few things in common:

• Food: All cultures share food. Break bread together. These shared experiences create a deep bond. The flavours and smells embed these experiences deep into our memory: the smell of a boiled egg on a road trip, the smell of coffee on the beach, the smell of biscuits being baked in a grandma’s kitchen.
• Loved ones: Sharing these experiences with others is what makes them enjoyable, valuable and deeply meaningful.
• Gratitude: Every single person mentioned something they were grateful for in hindsight. People shared how grateful they were to have shared a simple meal, a holiday or a road trip. For some, it was the last time they saw someone. I was overwhelmed by how often the most special memories had no photos, they were unplanned. They were made on the way to something else, in the process, on the journey. One of the best quotes on the day was: “You never know when you are going to make these memories”. This weekend I was in the blessed position to celebrate my girl’s birthday party with their friends. I woke up early on Saturday morning to make sandwiches for the kiddos at the party. As I was buttering what felt like the millionth slice of bread, I was filled with gratitude: a special memory of my mom making my sandwiches in the morning, but also making sandwiches for kids who didn’t have them. I instantly appreciated every sandwich she ever made (even the ones I didn’t enjoy as much). I also remembered my dad staying up late to bake every birthday cake I ever had. Wonderful memories!!!
• Similarities not differences: When one person shared their food-related memory, just about everyone around the table could connect to it with either their own experience or story. Too often we miss an opportunity to connect or get to know someone because we assume that we are too different. But building a strong connection, whether it is personal or in a work setting, requires us to look past our differences and recognise what we have in common. We are a lot more alike than we may think.

This weekend, think about the special memories you associate with your favourite eats. I encourage you to thank the people who made these memories special (if you still have the opportunity). Share them with each other. I think it is one of our best yet underutilized forms of connection.

We would love to hear your thoughts, get in touch. You can reach us at info@purposeworks.co.za.

At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.