Toast of the Town (Achievement Nudge)
Last Updated on November 25, 2024 by Bill Truby
If you are “the toast of the town,” you are an example of how something good can come out of something bad.
Achieve a Better State of Happiness by Creating Something Good out of Something Bad
In ancient Greece, when important people gathered to eat and drink, the host performed a tradition that appeared to be a social grace, but was really done to prove that no one was going to die that night. It was common to get rid of a powerful person, or even certain guests, by putting poison in their drink. To ensure this wouldn’t happen at THIS dinner, the host carried out a tradition that went like this.
Everyone would see the wine being poured. Then, the host would lift his glass and drink “to your health.” If the host didn’t keel over, the guests would lift their glasses and drink to the host’s health. It was a practical (and life-saving) way to begin a meal.
The Romans continued the tradition, but their wine was inferior to the Greek’s. It was acidy and had a slight taste of vinegar. To improve the taste, the Romans added burnt toast to each cup. The charcoal on the bread would absorb the acid and make the wine taste better. The “keep from getting poisoned” tradition was now called a “toast.” Still, a practical way to ensure your host wasn’t trying to poison you.
In the 18th century, the act of toasting took a twist. People became tired of “drinking to the health” of the host and the guests, so the hosts began toasting to the health of a celebrated person – a king, a famous knight or some nobleman. But that wasn’t sustainable. There weren’t that many celebrated people around so the hosts ran out of people to toast.
Because of this, the tradition took another twist and the host began toasting a beautiful woman in the room. This kind of toast took off. But, after time, they ran out of beautiful women, too. When the person performing the toast looked around the room and couldn’t find any beautiful women, ANOTHER twist in the toasting task took off – the host toasted a well-known beautiful woman, even if she wasn’t present.
Not to be outdone, at the next party, that host toasted the same well-known beautiful woman. The next host at the next party would do the same thing, and the next, and so on… until a lucky, beautiful woman became “the toast of the town!”
Even when death by poisoned wine was no longer a concern, the toasting tradition continued and went viral. Virtually everyone in every country toasts. At weddings, parties, formal gatherings and even informal sports events; people lift their glasses, mugs, bottles or red, plastic cups and toast something or someone. Toasting became a welcomed, beautiful, social grace; the recipient of the toast, special, indeed!
How did fear of poisoning a medieval king turn into a beautiful tradition of toasting a daughter bride with words of love and adoration? It’s because in the essence of a toast there is an act of love. The king’s toast stopped the potential “terrorist act” of a dark knight in its tracks. It gave his guests the freedom to party without fear. The king’s act demonstrated leadership, protection and caring for others. It truly was an act of love.
And that’s why the toast continues. Without really thinking about it, we are perpetuating the spirit of love and selfless acts of courage that has taken us through every disaster or potential disaster in our history. If you perform an other-centered act today – helping an employee, giving a card to your spouse, speaking a compliment – you are performing the act of a king! For that, I toast you.
This article is part of our ongoing Achievement Nudge series—short, witty, and often inspirational articles to spark your personal and professional growth. Explore more nudges on our blog, or sign up for our weekly Nudge and News email. Each edition includes an Achievement Nudge plus leadership, professional development, and personal growth videos and articles to keep you inspired and on track.
Tanya Quinn
COO, Truby Achievements
