Having a party is a huge part of Barbequia and while we are the partyingest people on the planet, it doesn’t mean you have to get drunk or otherwise altered to have a good time. A party in Barbequia can be just like what is traditionally viewed as a party, but more often than not it is very different. While we are all about good food shared with friends and family, good beer and wine and a big to do, we will cover those celebrations more in the section on Traditions. For now, we will cover making the dull and mundane fun again by making it a party. In Barbequia we strive to honor the child in all of us (a big part of who we really are) by finding wonder in simplicity, beauty in nature, no need to judge, and fun in a party. So, when you feel down, life is kind of dull, or if you just feel like you need to kick it up a notch – make it a party! The philosophy behind this concept is simple; it is nearly impossible to NOT have a lighthearted day when you are having a party. Now when it is all said and done, we could say that we are living Barbequia if every day is a light hearted day because a light hearted day means we are happy, free of judgment, full of love and enjoying the experience of life. So, for the time between our present reality and actually living a full-time Barbequian lifestyle (in other words from now on, since we know we master nothing) for those days that just need a boost, make it a party!
A friend of mine told me about how a few years back he and his wife had allowed themselves to reach a point in their relationship where it just seemed blasé, no “spark” and they felt stuck in a rut. They talked a bit about it but never concluded anything but an agreement that they were in a rut. One day shortly after discussing the matter, he was given an invitation to a “Bringing it Back Party” the next day after work. When he arrived home, there were balloons on the outside of the house and a sign that read “Bringing it Back Party Inside”. He went in the house to discover more balloons, a fire going in the fireplace and a wonderful dinner that his wife had prepared and that they proceeded to eat on the floor in front of the fire. By the end of the evening, the rut they were in no longer existed.
We can make it a party for just about any occasion and while exotic food is fun, most of our parties are done with whatever is in the pantry, which may be accented with a special treat or item on the menu.
Kids love the concept of making it a party and as far as I can tell they don’t outgrow it. Have a pizza party – which means hang out, watch a movie and eat pizza together. Celebrate your pet’s birthdays, all holidays, make up your own holidays, and most of all, use your imagination for as many ways as you can to have a party and a light hearted day.