Hirsch's Hyde Park Grand Opening
16/05/18 11:25 Filed in: The Dietician | Family
A few weeks ago I received an email from Sharron Dingle at Hirsch's Fourways which, as a regular attendee of the Business Networking Meetings, is something I receive often. But this one was different. This email had an invitation attached to it. An invitation to attend the Grand Opening of Hirsch's Hyde Park… as a blogger! I still consider myself a newbie. Still finding my blogging feet. And I wasn't sure that a dietician's blog could add much value to the opening of a new Home Store - a shop that sells appliances and furniture. But I was up for the challenge and thrilled to have been invited. So, I accepted the invitation and waited for the day to come, thinking all the time about what I could contribute.
I had ideas about writing about the nifty kitchen gadgets, like Air-fryers and steamers and nonstick pans, that make cooking healthy meals a piece of cake.
Or, talking about fridges and freezers which mean you can shop and cook less frequently, but still eat balanced meals with plenty of vegetables everyday.
Or I could even go with dining room tables to encourage families sitting down together to enjoy their meals.
And yes, that is all relevant to both me and Hirsch's Homestores. But, while standing in the crowd that was there to celebrate the opening of the new Hyde Park store last night, I was overwhelmed by the sense of family and belonging for all those who work at Hirsch's Homestores. Not to mention the Hirsch family themselves. In my very humble opinion, family gives us a sense of belonging. Whether that family shares your personal DNA, or the DNA of your company, it speaks to every person's need to have a place in society. And having a place, and feeling like we belong, is what makes the world a better place to live in.
If you have been following this blog, you will know that I am passionate about getting the family around the dinner table, sharing their daily lives with each other, creating a sense of belonging. And with that, from a health and nutrition point of view, we teach our children to eat well, and have opportunities to expose them to different foods.
And this is what it is all about… Creating a healthier society. Not just physical health, but mental health too. Food is not just about survival in terms of nourishment and energy. Food is an integral part of our society. We use it to celebrate special occasions such as last night's grand opening of Hirsch's Hyde Park, or birthdays, or weddings. We use it to symbolise important aspects of our various religions. We give gifts of food to show that we care.
So, as I was leaving the function last night, I walked passed a small 4-seater dining room table, and having just listened to the speeches, and feeling the love and excitement and sense of belonging in the air, I new that the focus of this blog post was going to be family.
I bought my very first oven and fridge from Hirsch's when I was studying in KZN - more than 20 years ago. I also bought my favourite hob and oven in my current kitchen from Hirsch's Fourways. While the appliances may be the same from one shop to the next, the service and sense of belonging that you get when shopping at Hirsch's Homestores will keep me going back, even for the smaller gadgets - especially now that there is a store only 5 minutes from my house!
Sharron and Hirsch's have welcomed me into their family. Margaret Hirsch is an inspirational woman with her "attitude of gratitude". I am honoured to have been invited to this family gathering, and I look forward to sharing at the Hirsch's table in the future.
