Hi First name / friend,

 

I heard someone say recently:

 

“The amount of good things in your life depends on your ability to notice them.”

 

And I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

 

Maybe because this season has made me notice things more deeply.

 

The lilacs blooming.

A thoughtful note in the mail.

A conversation on a front porch.

An unexpected act of kindness.

The people who quietly make life better for others.

 

I think so much of hospitality begins right there — simply paying attention.

 

Last May, Scott and I were up in Stillwater, Minnesota visiting my parents. We have stayed at the same charming hotel, Hotel Crosby, hotelcrosby.com for several years, since we were no longer able to stay at Mom & Dad’s house. We became acquainted with a special employee, Mike Baker on our first visit. When he learned that I absolutely LOVE lilacs, would you believe that he brought some neighborhood flowers for us and put a bouquet in our hotel room? I’ll never forget that random act of kindness and I always remember it when I think of springtime lilacs. He paid attention to hearing of my love for lilacs and actually did something about it. We all get chances like that in life to make it memorable for another person.

 

Do you follow through when you get that inkling? 

 

 

A couple weeks ago Scott and I were eating lunch at the Olde Hickory Station in North Carolina when we noticed an older couple, maybe in their 90s, nearby who we came to know later as Clarence and Joyce.

 

It was easy to see they were having such a wonderful lunch with their friends who expressed such pure delight and joy. Their conversations seemed intent as they looked at one another and talked and easily laughed together. At one point, we quietly paid for their lunch. Sometimes we like to do this for young couples, but this was one of the first times we had done it for older couples. They “guessed” it was us and came over to tell us they were enjoying lunch with their friends of 55 years…what a gift to have such a longtime friendship. Joyce had been a Kindergarten teacher and said she “loved every single day of it.” Clarence was close to 90 years old and had worked for the local electric company. Simply observing them brought us such joy!! If you feel the urge to “treat” someone… do it!! It will bring you even MORE joy!!

 

It reminded me of something the Atlanta pastor, Andy Stanley once said:

 

“Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.”

 

Isn’t that really what hospitality often is?

 

Not solving every problem.

Not changing the whole world overnight.

But choosing to notice one person. Encourage one person. Love one person well.

 

 

A few months ago, in my newsletter, I mentioned that one of my favorite books I’ve read recently is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.

 

I share a new blog post about it this month because I couldn’t stop thinking about the themes woven throughout the story: kindness, generosity, noticing people, and the quiet ways we can change someone’s day.

 

You can read the blog post here: 

 

The story reminded me that hospitality is so much deeper than entertaining.

 

Sometimes it looks like:

- paying attention

- listening carefully

- offering encouragement

- remembering someone’s story

- making room for people

 

The smallest gestures often stay with us the longest. Those beautiful flowers in the picture above (and below!) were delivered to our front door from our friends Sandy and Blake. She graciously thought my first Mother’s Day without my mom might be a hard one. What kind and thoughtful friends!! 🌸🤍🌿

 

 

One of the especially fun parts of reading Theo of Golden was learning that the fictional coffee shop in the story was inspired by a real-life coffee shop in Columbus.

 

We met someone who had been to that real coffee shop in Georgia and he shared pictures with us.

 

There’s something about meaningful little coffee shops that slows people down. Conversations linger longer there. People seem more open. More present.

 

 

Recently, I celebrated our neighbor Maggie’s birthday with tea and cookies on the front porch.

 

Nothing elaborate.

Nothing fancy.

 

Just slowing down long enough to celebrate someone.

 

I think we sometimes underestimate how meaningful simple gatherings can be.

 

A few cookies.

Fresh flowers.

Time together.

 

That’s often enough.

 

 

Along with beautiful floral bouquets one of the greatest gifts our family received after my mom passed away were handwritten notes and sympathy cards.

 

At my husband Scott's office, each employee took the time to handwrite me a sympathy card. It meant more than I can fully express. It took just one person with the idea to get a couple packages of notecards and give everyone the opportunity to jot down their thoughts. One person encouraging others is what made the difference! 

 

I was personally reminded how powerful handwritten words can be.

 

A handwritten note is truly a gift these days.

 

And can I gently say something?

 

It’s never, NEVER too late to write the thank you note!

 

Or the encouragement note.

Or the sympathy note.

Or the “I was thinking about you” note.

 

Sometimes we talk ourselves out of encouraging someone because it feels too small or insignificant.

 

And before we know it, the moment is gone.

 

But small kindnesses matter deeply.

Recently I’ve been thinking about how Simple Hospitality is dedicated to my parents.

 

Now that both of them are gone, that dedication feels even more meaningful to me.

 

I’m so grateful I was able to surprise them and honor them in that way while they were still here to receive it.

They lived to see their daughter’s dream come true.

 

The picture below is when I gave it to them when it was still in “the 3-ring notebook” state. Before it was published. Glad they were able to see and hold the “real thing!!”

 

So much of what I believe about kindness, welcoming people, generosity, and hospitality came from watching them live it out in ordinary life. They were remarkable people. I have never heard an unkind word spoken about them.

 

They taught me that people matter.

That kindness matters.

That opening your life to others matters.

 

And now I find myself even more thankful for those lessons. 

 

This lovely shop is located in the small town of Winter Haven, Florida. A friend had suggested my book might be a perfect fit for them. As I walked in carrying the book, the woman’s face lit up. She smiled and said, “I have already purchased two copies of your book in another shop; one for me and one for a friend. We’re honored you’d like us to carry it here in Winter Haven!” 

 

Truth is… I’M so honored to have my book in this gorgeous shop where they feature “gifts with intentional hospitality in mind” and say “hospitality feels at home.” When I read that, I knew I would SO love to have my book with them. Please visit thefloridaroomwh.com when nearby! 

 

 

I think one of the greatest tragedies in life is not that we fail to do enormous things…

 

but that we miss the opportunity to do small meaningful things.

 

To encourage.

To notice.

To invite.

To thank.

To celebrate.

To write the note.

To buy the lunch.

To say the kind word before the moment passes.

 

Maybe the small things are not actually small at all.

 

Thank you for being here, for reading, and for being part of our little community.

 

Until next time —

 

✨ Will you accept this month’s invitation to spread some simple hospitality?

P.S. Did you know? All proceeds from my book, Simple Hospitality, go directly to support the new Orlando Health Children’s Pavilion—a place of hope, healing, and care for families in our community. Thank you for helping make a difference with every book you gift and share.

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Forward it to a friend—it would mean so much to me! 💌

 

If someone forwarded it to you—welcome! I'm so glad you're here. My name is Jennifer Boyd, and I recently published Simple Hospitality: An Invitation to Add Kindness to Your Everyday Life, a dream 25 years in the making. In both my book and newsletter, I share the heart behind hospitality—simple ways to bring kindness and connection into everyday life.

 

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