Listened to a broadcast the other day. The man was telling a story about how he took a break from college and hitchhiked from New York to Alaska.<\/p>\n
He was rhapsodizing “It wasn’t long until I realized that this was the only way to really meet people. I met all kinds of people, and talked to them. They were so interesting and welcoming”<\/p>\n
This is such a cliche.<\/p>\n
Guess what? Alaska is a place. It is a place among places. And you know what?<\/p>\n
IT”S NOT THE ONLY WAY TO DO ANYTHING.<\/p>\n
do you know what? You took a break from your life and started talking to all kinds of people.<\/p>\n
You HAPPENED to be on your way to Alaska. Alaska had nothing to do with you pulling your head out of your butt and noticing the world around you.<\/p>\n
Alaska is magical. You knw what else is magical? The restaurant down the street. And the bus that takes you to the next town. Or the elevator.<\/p>\n
ALL THESE LOCATIONS are places that I have spoken to people I wouldn’t get a chance to speak to in my daily life. But wait, that is my daily life.<\/p>\n
So. I have long fascinating conversations with all kinds of people on a weekly if not daily basis. People that I might not have conversations with every again. And some of them are people I have come to realize that I see all the time, but only have started to notice them once I had a good long talk.<\/p>\n
People yakyakyak about how important it is to be diverse, and not prejudiced. In particular, I hear this from hallowed halls, of management in businesses and from professors of universities.<\/p>\n
And sometimes I get to talk to the denizens of those hallowed halls and blow their minds about what diverse means.<\/p>\n
It means getting input. It means listening and talking and conversing.<\/p>\n
What it does NOT mean is dropping out of your life to sleep on a strangers couch.<\/p>\n
And if you have to drop out of your life to remember what life is, you are way out of line.<\/p>\n
There is that famous internet story about the fantastic violist that played on the subway, and nobody stopped to listen<\/p>\n
I listen.<\/p>\n
I always listen to music on the street. There is not much outside music on my street. But I always listen.<\/p>\n
I left Alaska to find more people to talk to.<\/p>\n
And I’m still talking.<\/p>\n
Did everyone else forget how to talk?<\/p>\n
Is this skill something that makes me special?<\/p>\n
Perhaps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Listened to a broadcast the other day. The man was telling a story about how he took a break from college and hitchhiked from New York to Alaska. He was rhapsodizing “It wasn’t long until I realized that this was … Continue reading