A table is defined as a piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, providing a level surface on which objects may be placed, and that can be used for such purposes as eating, writing, working, or playing games.
Two weeks ago I had the honor of having a seat at the table. What table GG, is that your question? Well the answer is my favorite Ohio yarn shop, Around the Table Yarns. Yes, the owners Beth Billings and Pam Berkson invited me to come to host a discussion on diversity and inclusion.
In my opinion a table should be welcoming to anyone that would like to have a seat. In my family the table is where we meet, the focal point. It is where we share success or challenges, now take those attributes come with me to a yarn shop in Shaker Heights OH.
Guys my heart is still full of all the love. You see all of that orange? Every time someone walked in with Orange my heart expanded a bit more. The gifts, the hugs and just all of it was so very right!! I think at one point we had 40 or more makers in the shop! There was even a custom GG color way made by Honeybee Knits. called “Orange you Glad GG is Here?” You see, all the love!! Do you also see how different we all are?
I will admit I was a little apprehensive about the conversation when I started because I was the minority. I am a people watcher so noticed the body language of some was not warm, however, the more I told my story, they relaxed and even joined the conversation. Listening to folks share their thoughts and feelings in a situation that could be uncomfortable for some, warmed my heart!
Did I mention my flight was delayed going and canceled coming back? Yup that happened and I still had the best time ever! I met new folks, folks I talked to all the time but never met and I gave out tons of hugs!! It was such a wonderful time.
This visit proved that together we can do anything. Below you will find my Youtube video about my visit. Are you subscribed to my channel? I upload every Sunday, so click here so you don’t miss anything.
As always thanks for watching. I have a question, does your local yarn shop have a welcoming table? Let’s talk in the comments
Knit on my fiber friends….knit on
GG
My LYS closed with the owner’s retirement, but I’m not sure whether it would have been welcoming. I live in a very diverse area, but the nearest yarn shop…not so much, I think the owner would have been welcoming, but I remember shopping for yarn the same day as the marches nationwide against putting children in cages, and I remember women sitting around a table knitting and some old gal going, “Oh what are they fussing about now.” So, ugh. My kids’ school, on the other hand, is welcoming— it’s a minority-majority Catholic school, my son is the only white kid in kindergarten and fits right in, lots of the kids are from multi-ethnic families, lots of the parents are more comfortable in Spanish or Vietnamese or Tagalog than English, some of my most lovely friends are moms I’ve met there, and it’s a beautiful community. 🙂
It’s sad, but we have to start some where right?
Thank you for sharing this. And for the gift of yourself! It’s really tough to do what you did, even with a welcoming audience (let alone one with some folks who don’t look quite ready to join in at the beginning). I love that this place was up for the talk. I know my LYS doesn’t have much diversity in its customer base that I have observed – I don’t know all the reasons for it. I’m not sure how or whom to ask, but I appreciate that you are making me raise the questions.
Thank you for reading, it was a great time
Hi GG,
Thank you for being REAL to who you are (an Angel). Your knitting adventures, experiences and inspiring conversations warm my heart relaxing my spirit from negativity ; which makes my days/evenings a blessing. It’s insane that in today’s society some people have damaged souls and spirits of hate instead of LOVE and compassion for others that are different. GG you truly model the golden rule: “DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE Them DO UNTO TO YOU”. Because of your podcast etc. I want to knit often. You’re a friend not only to the knitting community but to our society… keep posting , smiling and caring for others. You a super Friend. Love/smiles🌹
So kind you are!! Thank you!!
Keep blogging last !
Keep blogging lady !
I will
As someone who was there that Sunday, I can attest to the amount of love in the room and the active listening that went on. GG, you are a loving spirit and that radiates from you in your words, both written and spoken. You received me, someone you only vaguely knew from Instagram, as a sister as I hugged you and cried while I recounted how you had given me hope during a recent dark time in my life. You smiled with me, laughed with me, and cried with me. You saw me. You heard me. You embodied the spirit of gathering around the table, just as the ancestors had done before us.
Thank you for you, GG. Continue to lift up as you go. It means so much.
Love,
Lisa aka violamom2
I’m so happy you came!! See you next year 😘
Being an experienced HR professional. This meet greet seem to accomplish the positivity of knowing each other as humans.