The nature of living and loving is the act of reciprocity. As women, we are told that to be the guest is to receive. We are told that to be the host is to give. But what if it is the reverse? What if it is the guest who gives to the host and it is the host who receives from the guest each time she sets her table to welcome and feed those she loves? To be the guest and the host simultaneously is to imagine a mutual exchange of gifts predicated on respect and joy. If we could adopt this truth, perhaps we as women would be less likely to become martyrs.
"The nature of living and loving is the act of reciprocity," suggests Terry Tempest Williams. She reflects on gender roles, traditionally portraying women as either givers or receivers, emphasizing that the roles of guest and host might be interchangeable. Instead, she proposes a view where the guest gives as much as they receive, fostering mutual respect and joy in relationships.
Williams encourages women to embrace this balance, imagining a world where they are both hosts and guests simultaneously. She believes this perspective could help women avoid martyrdom, fostering healthier, more reciprocal interactions built on shared gift-giving and understanding.