Don’t make assumptions. Don’t be afraid of mixing and matching. Don’t be worried that things may not work out the way you want them to. Instead of thinking that it either has to be the good china or the everyday dishes, use some of both. Is your menu traditional or original—or potluck? Relax the expectation that a critical relative may not mix well with a new friend you have. Consider bringing friends together who haven’t always gotten along in the past. Instead of hectically trying to find a work-life balance, explore the possibility of a work-life blend. Put your heart into both at the same time. By juxtaposing what appear to be opposing elements, you may have a splendid creative ‘aha’ moment. Or maybe you’ll get a whole new perspective. Juxtaposition helps not just in comparing and contrasting, but in seeing things in a new way. Is it old or is it new? Should you wear borrowed or blue? Is it busy or quiet? Do they seem cheerful or glum? Don’t get too stuck in tradition, how you think things should be, or how they always were and trying to recreate them. Instead, be open. Be curious. Be still. Allow yourself the gift of surprise.
