Placed upon a podium with the entire world as my audience, my message would be simple: Host a dinner party. 

Initially, such a proclamation may not resonate with a global audience. Rather, it may register as superficially insignificant. It’s not. I began practicing what I preach at the age of 16. A now seasoned veteran in the world of dinner parties, there’s much to say and learn from such fanciful affairs. 

In its purest form, a dinner party is simply a gathering of people centered on the activity of eating. To sit around a table, in good company, while sharing food, is a moment that transcends time. There, at that table, you are practicing a ritual that has been performed by your ancestors for generations. It is human nature to seek community, to seek connection.

While in pursuit of this primal urge, we may gain introspective insight into ourselves. Curating the mood through music, theme and ambience can empower oneself to embrace an often suppressed sense of creativity. Beyond the aesthetic value, creating tailored atmospheres taught me how to cultivate meaning and purpose. Every act of beauty, every moment of magic, during these events comes to fruition through intentional, unified efforts. 

When I began hosting these gatherings, I was in search of connection. Coupling my affinity for cooking with my interest in learning the skills of all the gracious hostesses that came before me, a dinner party was an amalgamation of all my passions — a manifestation of connection, care and craft. An adoration for handmade pasta, dimly lit dining rooms and Frank Sinatra are at the center of these aforementioned passions. These parties gave me purpose.

In recent years, the concept of a loneliness epidemic has unfortunately become a prominent phenomenon. 

The culture that emerged from the coronavirus pandemic was one categorized by loneliness. Time spent in isolation and bounded within the confines of quarantine naturally ignited a culture of solitude. According to research coming out of Harvard in 2021, individuals aged 18 to 25 reported that the pandemic had increased their feelings of loneliness and disillusionment with the world around them.

The most elementary definition of loneliness is the emotional effects we experience when our need for social interaction is not met. Loneliness can encompass a spectrum of feelings, encapsulating everything from sentiments of anxiety to emptiness. Distressing in nature, feelings of social isolation have seemingly swept the nation. 

Beyond emotional suffering, the loneliness epidemic is taking a physical toll on our collective health. A 2023 report by then-United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy revealed that a deficiency in social connection could lead to health risks. This included a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 50% increased risk of developing dementia and an increased threat of premature death similar to the effect of smoking about 15 cigarettes a day. 

In addition to this ingrained lonesomeness, the U.S. is encumbered with the burden of being an individualistic society rather than a collectivist one. We’ve cultivated a philosophy that emphasizes sacrificing the common good for individual achievement. No longer are we citizens of a tribe relying on one another for survival; we are entrepreneurial beings destined for self-fulfillment. 

According to a 2024 study conducted by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, almost 60% of participants pinpointed this emphasis on individualism as a leading cause of loneliness in the U.S. 

So, how do we reignite a culture of connectivity? 

Why, dinner parties of course. The preservation of such a human tradition is our champion in the fight against social isolation. Our nation’s founding story involved the very principle of gathering in communion at a great feast. Inviting your friends and family over to enjoy a meal and engage in thought-provoking conversation is actively combating the looming threat of loneliness.

Social connection matters and could be the remedy to a growing disenchantment with our lack of unity. In a world that feels deeply disconnected in light of the multitude of social media platforms, let us return to the basics. The uncomplicated joy of uniting face-to-face over cuisine prepared with care may be the obvious answer to our modern woes. 

This warm feeling, the one I get viewing authentic smiles plastered across the faces of those I love, is worth every minute of dedication poured into these events. Seeing the fruits of my labor being savored by my community is a reaffirming sentiment. 

I implore everyone to host your loved ones whenever you get the chance — you may just learn that it’s exactly what you needed. You don’t need to be Martha Stewart; you just need a desire to foster community. 

Paulina da Silva is a junior writing about cuisine, culture and community in her column, “Pauli’s Slice,” which runs every other Friday.