How to (begin to) craft your cocktail line
Social etiquette lesson courtesy of movie favourite, Bridget Jones’ Diary: “Introduce people with thoughtful details…”
In Bridget’s case, her introduction was “(she) works in a publishing house and she used to play around naked in (Mark’s) paddling pool.”
How would someone describe you? Can you think of a recent occasion where someone’s introduced you? What did they say? And how did it make you feel?
If you have a job, or you’re a mum, chances are you get introduced by your role. These days I often get “this is Louis’/Joe’s mum”.
But how much do you think this introduces YOU?
As adults we get badged by our roles: someone’s wife/partner, mum, professional status. And let’s be truthful, the person on the receiving end will probably make some snap judgement about who you are based on what they hear. How true is it though?
Before marriage, babies, career, you were still YOU, right?
Image: Craft & Cocktails
I LOVE seeing little children make new friends. They say their name full of importance and that’s it. No pre-conceived ideas, no badges of honour. Just, this is me.
If you were to strip away all the roles and titles, how would you love to be introduced? What words would truly describe the real you?
Many of the women I work with have forgotten, at least on a conscious level. Somewhere, underneath the layers of responsibility, she’s still that young girl with that unique sparkle… but sometimes it just needs a little dusting off.
So, get your duster out and start to polish-up your cocktail line.
What is your special talent? What do people come to your for help/advice on?
What can you do with ease?
What do you do that, when you do it, time flies?
What lights you up?
What have been some of your happiest moments?
What do you stand for?
Free-flow with a pen and paper. Write down anything and everything that comes up. Start to reveal the words, the feelings, the uniqueness that makes you you. Don’t censor. Start with “I’m (your name) and this is me….” Read it aloud and see how you feel now.
Tingles? Tears? A stirring? If so, bingo, you’ve scratched the surface.
