Is There Room at the Table?

I approach the table; one or two people look up and smile, then go back to their tasks. I feel unwanted and unwelcome, so... 

I find an empty table and sit down alone. 

I feel lonely and unloved. 

So I am determined to join the crowd.

I approach the table. Someone says ‘hello’ and then goes back to their task. I lose my nerve when I feel unwanted and unwelcome again, so... 

I find an empty table and sit down alone.

Once again, I feel lonely and unloved, but convinced I don’t belong at the table. 

I feel lonely and unloved, but tell myself that the people sitting at the table just aren’t demonstrative and their reaction isn’t about me. 

And then I see someone else come into the room. 

Several people look up, scoot over, and pull up a chair for the new person. 

I feel stung, and see this as evidence that, at least to some degree, it IS about me. 

It is me they don’t want. 

I spend years examining myself, trying to figure out what is wrong with me,

Why don't the people at the table want me there? 

I morph and change, trying to become someone like the people at the table. 

Maybe if I’m like them, they will want me there. 

With each change, I approach the table only to experience the same reactions as before. 

Until finally, I stand up, take my chair to the table, pick a random spot, ask the people sitting there to scoot over, and sit down. 

I’m sitting at the table. I belong here. 

And I ask them to keep moving over, bring in a new chair, and watch for the next person to enter the room. 

I am determined that nobody else will walk into the room and feel unwelcome.