Everyone is Welcome. I’ve been thinking a lot about this phrase—it’s been everywhere around here the past few weeks. And it’s got me reflecting on how I can create a truly welcoming space in my life. In my work, in my relationships, in my home.
Many of us want to be more welcoming, but too often, we hold back. We tell ourselves, Once the house is cleaner. Once the food is better. Once I have it all together. But what if we stopped waiting?
What if the very things we see as imperfections—the scuffed floors, the cluttered corners, the slightly overcooked dinner—actually made people feel more at home?
True hospitality isn’t about a perfect house or the best meal. It’s about saying, You are welcome here—just as you are.
Nobody has shown me this better than the women in my life. My mom and my mother-in-love (Mama) have taught me so much by example. They’ll tell you they learned it from their moms, and I’m sure it goes back generations—women who made it a point to include others, to create spaces where people felt seen, known, and loved.
So why does it still feel so difficult sometimes? Why do I feel like everything has to be perfect first?
The truth is, nobody wants to be friends with someone who seems perfect. Perfection is exhausting. Real life? Real life is comforting.
When a friend walks into your home and sees a pile of shoes by the door or dishes in the sink, they don’t feel out of place—they feel at home.
People long for connection more than presentation. They love the familiarity of knowing where to grab a glass of water, where to leave their coat, where to throw away their napkin without asking. They love being welcomed, not impressed.
At this point, I feel like I’m preaching to the choir. So let’s do this! Let’s stop waiting for things to be perfect. Let’s open our doors, pull up a chair, and let people in.
Because with us? Everyone is welcome!
