I had to laugh when I first heard the expression, “Pineapple Post.”
Recently, I participated in a social media writing course by esteemed writing coach Deborah Ager. At one point, she instructed us to write a “Pineapple Post.” I believe she may have even coined the term, which she described as a post that welcomes people to your business or page without being ‘salesy.’
That makes sense because, in many places, the pineapple is
the symbol of hospitality and welcome.
I admit, I never really understood why the pineapple became
such a symbol. Although wonderfully sweet on the inside, its prickly exterior is
anything but welcoming.
So practicing what I teach – i.e. “learn something new every
day” – I looked it up. I learned that because early trade routes between
America and Caribbean Islands were often slow and perilous, it was a
significant achievement for a host to procure a ripe pineapple for guests. Also,
sea captains would place a pineapple outside their homes as a symbol of their
safe return from trade routes in the Caribbean or Pacific.
Okay. I get it now. But a couple years ago, I learned
something about pineapple symbolism that changed its meaning for me forever.
I am a motivational speaker and leadership coach who teaches
people how to light the motivational TORCH of those around them, while keeping
their own fire burning bright. I use a lot of humor in my programs, and help
people learn to laugh in the face of adversity.
Because of this bright outlook on life, I am often asked to emcee
events, and even officiate weddings and vow renewal ceremonies.
Friends of ours were celebrating a milestone anniversary and
we were going to be taking a Caribbean cruise together which would be stopping
in Antigua, where they had their honeymoon. I was honored when they asked if I
would officiate a vow renewal for them on their favorite beach.
I wanted to make this special and to bring some levity to
the event, so I bought a new outfit for the occasion – an iridescent orange
suit covered in brilliant yellow pineapples and bright green palm leaves!
Somehow, I managed to keep this hidden from them until we were standing in
place on the beach. As you can imagine, It was blinding surprise in the bright
Caribbean sun!
After the ceremony, I wore the suit back to the ship and to dinner that night and out dancing afterward. I had heard rumor of a “pineapple party” taking place somewhere onboard. I wondered about what it was and figured my pineapple-covered suit would surely get noticed and we’d get an invitation.
During the first several days of the cruise, I had seen
several cabin doors around the ship with pineapple decorations on them. Many
people decorate their cabin doors, so I thought nothing much of it at the time,
especially since pineapples seemed like a perfectly logical island theme.
Apparently, there is a subculture of folks who have adopted
the pineapple as a way of identifying each other and offer a whole different
level of welcome and sharing. When they saw my blaze-orange
pineapple-covered suit, you might say it raised some eyebrows and we suddenly
made a whole bunch of new friends.
Of course, we were oblivious. We were just dancing and
having fun with our new friends until we realized that we could no longer
discern the couples and whom was with whom. I remember our reaction when it
suddenly dawned on us. “oh.” “Oh.” “OH!”
LOL. I relate this story as a reminder to always keep an
open mind in life and find the humor in every situation.
By the way, I still wear the suit on occasion, when I want
to lighten the mood somewhere, and always retell that story. 😉
