Tahilla Gatherings, September, 2026
Someone recently asked me why I do it. Why do I invite people into my home for Tahilla Gatherings? What drives me to organize these creative days, bring people together, and open my doors to people I've sometimes never met?
My answer was simple. Connection. For myself and for others.
I've been thinking about that conversation, particularly after reading an article in the Financial Times last weekend about the value of coming together in our homes, simply to offer our presence to one another. It raised a question about our capacity to weather difficult times and whether being more intentional about sharing our lives might contribute to our collective wellbeing.
It made me wonder whether we've forgotten something about the simple act of gathering.
When I began Tahilla Gatherings, I wanted to create opportunities for people to explore their creativity in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Photography, flowers, sketching, books, writing. The possibilities seemed endless, and I loved imagining what we might do together. Perhaps, without quite realizing it, I'd been working toward this for years.
But I've come to realize that what happens around the activity can be every bit as meaningful as the activity itself.
It's the conversations over lunch, the unexpected connections between people, the laughter, the quiet moments, the sharing of stories. Sometimes it's simply the pleasure of sitting with others, without the distractions of everyday life. The activity gives us a reason to come together, but it's often what happens in between that stays with us.
I've come to think of hospitality as something more than entertaining. It's about making room for one another, offering our time and attention, and allowing whatever happens next to unfold. We don't always need a reason to gather, or something to show for our time together. Sometimes the company is enough.
And I wonder whether we need more of this. Not necessarily organized gatherings or carefully planned occasions, but the simple gesture of opening our doors.
A cup of tea. A place at the table. An afternoon without an agenda.
There's a generosity in inviting someone into our home, but there's also something to be gained by the person extending the invitation. I know that's true for me. Each gathering brings new perspectives, conversations, friendships, and experiences into my life. I may be the one opening the door, but I'm also the one being enriched by those who walk through it.
Perhaps that's what I was trying to express when I answered the question.
We live in a world that can feel increasingly unsettled, where it's easy to retreat into our own routines and concerns. I don't imagine that gathering around a table will solve the world's problems, but I do wonder what might happen if we made more room for one another in our everyday lives.
Not every gathering needs a purpose. Not every invitation needs an occasion. Sometimes being together is reason enough.
Perhaps we have more to offer one another than we realize.
