Growing up in church, we used to have Sundays known as "Donut Sundays" now called "Hospitality Sundays." In truth, I had never really focused on the word hospitality. I had jumped straight to the word "donut" and knew that this day always created happiness when there was cream and chocolate inside my mouth and of course sprinkles. Hospitality in my mind was just happiness. In my case, donuts satisfied the sweet tooth I always suffered from. Hositality was the same as saying Happiness Sundays. 

I do not think I ever realized my mistake in this working definition until tonight. My husband and myself were invited over to the house of a fourth year resident. I had heard a lot about this particular resident because I do believe his personality and kindness was one reason why my husband decided to go into his surgical subspecialty. He was a wonderful mentor and friend. My husband constantly reminded me that he had yet to meet someone with such a vibrant personality and outlook on life itself. An individual like this was just so rare.

On a Thursday night, with a baby in their apartment, they organized a dinner for all the first year residents (three) including myself. As I walked into their apartment, I just noticed a different vibe than most places. It was cozy, there was soft music playing, pictures of many moments in their lives together, and a certain feeling of home. We were both immedietely greeted with warm hugs and smiles and were fed the most delicious food. His wife was from Argentina, and he was from Italy. One could immedietely sense the love that went into making this food. The conversation ran around from education to medicine to food to Pittsburgh. The warmth was just unbelievable. And I just could not help but smile at the thought of just how rare it was to be invited over for dinner, in the warmth of someone's home and engage in conversation. It was even more rare that it was happening in the middle of a work week.In fact, my parting words to this couple was, "Thank you for having us over. You both are simply beautiful people."  

Hospitality was here. They were both so welcoming of their guests and me ( a stranger.) The word neighborliness comes to mind when I think about tonight. It was such a space of warmth that you found yourself learning more about the world than any textbook or long-distance trip. There was such a worldliness about the space we were in. There was a comfort in spreading ideas and asking questions and making sure it was a space of comfort and warm invitation. How many of us are truly hospitable? How many of us would actually go out of our way to invite someone over for dinner? To talk? To prepare warm food with love and contentment? How many of us have spent most of our lives skipping over the word hospitable and jumping straight to donut? 

I think one of my personal goals in this life is to show greater hospitality, and invite strangers or even friends over for dinner, to chat about life and love, happiness and struggles. Creating a home for others in whatever space you are in is in the truest spirit of hospitality. It is also in the truest spirit of whimsy. Afterall, a multiplication of love does begin within the home.