Reflections: World Cafe

The Preparation

The World Cafe event was approaching and as a table host I started to prepare by thinking about the ambiance and feeling that I wanted to evoke, not just for my table guests but also for myself. What question will bring about meaningful discussion? What will make people want to share? What will allow for laughter and fun? As a new mom with a child that doesn't sleep at night, I am in a constant state of exhaustion and needed this event to be a good time, to give me an infusion of energy. My thoughts lead to happiness because when I'm happy I feel the most vital and alive. I wanted people to visit my table and feel the same way when they left. So I decided on the color theme, table activity, food and my dress to represent everything that makes me happy. And off I went to the South African store and Dollar Tree to bring my "Happiness table" to life!

My Question for the Table

I have many questions surrounding happiness like: What does it mean to others? Does it change from culture to culture, from

men to women?

Is it something in the past or something yet to be realized?

I was interested to find out what makes people happy and to transport them to that happy time or place by asking them to share their happiest day.

I came up with a research question that I will try to answer in my reflection:

Is Happiness a tangible, static thing regardless of culture or is it a state of mind that is influenced by your cultural expectations/psyche/surroundings?

The table question was much more simple but from the answers I would be able to gather the data and code it into themes to come up with an answer to my questions.

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Week 4: World Cafe, Happiness is...

The Event

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Final Thoughts

"Happiness is more than a state of mind, it's a state of being. It's a culmination of experience with a derivation of joy."

-Dominique Jacobs

This concludes my final entry.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for opening these doors and allowing this connection.

Thanks to the Great Spirit that makes all things possible.

Be well friends.