Keeping Thoughtfulness tradition Alive at the Table with my family.

Growing up, I always heard stories about how families in the past would gather around the dinner table every evening. No phones, no distractions, just food, laughter, and real conversations. It sounded almost like a scene from a movie. You know, the kind where everyone talks about their day, jokes around over dinner, and builds memories without even realizing it. These days, that kind of tradition seems to be fading. Life is moving fast, and everyone’s caught up in their own hustle. But still, I’ve come to realize that we don’t need to live like the olden days to keep that thoughtful spirit alive.

In my own family, we don’t sit down together every single night. Honestly, life just doesn’t work that way for us. Everyone’s got something going on. My siblings are in different phases of life, my parents are busy with work and other responsibilities, and I’m juggling school and personal goals. But despite the craziness, we’ve found our own little way to keep the connection going.

One thing that’s become a quiet tradition is Sunday lunch. No matter what’s happening, Sunday afternoon is that one time when we all try to show up. It’s not written anywhere, and no one makes a big deal out of it, but it’s understood. By around one in the afternoon, everybody’s home. My mom usually cooks something nice, and sometimes we all pitch in. Then we gather around and eat together. It’s not a deep, serious thing. Sometimes we’re laughing, teasing each other, or just sharing funny stories from the week. But it’s always real. It’s time we give each other without distractions.

And honestly, it’s not about the food, even though the food is usually banging. It’s about showing up. It’s about being there and being present. For that one hour or so, no one is stuck on their phone or zoning out. We’re just enjoying each other’s company. That, to me, is what thoughtfulness looks like. Not some grand, perfect moment, but simply choosing to spend time with the people that matter.

I’ve also tried to carry that same vibe outside of home. When I hang out with my friends, we don’t always have a big dining table or anything fancy. But we’ll sit on the hood of a car eating suya, or gather around someone’s room with takeout, just talking about life, school, relationships, or even random stuff. And the phones? They’re usually kept aside, not because we planned it, but because we’re genuinely enjoying the moment. That right there feels like our own version of the dinner table.

Something else I’ve started doing is checking in on people more. You know how easy it is to get wrapped up in your own stuff and forget to ask how someone else is doing? Now I try to slow down and give people real attention. Whether it’s a friend, a classmate, or someone I haven’t seen in a while, I’ll sit with them, share a snack or just chat. No rush. No background noise. Just presence. And sometimes, that means more than anything.

So maybe I’m not part of a traditional sit-down family like in the old stories, but I do think we’ve created our own version of it. I believe the heart of those old traditions still lives in the little things. In laughter shared over food, in giving people your full attention, and in taking the time to be there for one another.

At the end of the day, that’s how we keep the thoughtfulness alive in this crazy, fast-moving world.
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