Talking and listening

Holiday vacation ended, and I should feel glum. A conference I'm attending started today, which involved getting dressed up, going downtown, and being on my best networking behavior.

Yet I had the nicest interactions -and what was surprising was where and when they happened... before I even got to the conference.

As I'm walking up stairs to the train station parking lot this morning, a guy I've never met before says "You look nice today, young man!" And not in a mocking way. I replied with something generic about the warmth of his clothing and we went, smiling, about our ways.

Then on the train fifteen minutes later, a woman offered me her seat, moving to another one available close by. Though I had been set on standing, and was getting off at the next stop, I accepted her generosity and sat down. I quickly mentioned something about the article I was reading, which had to do with China. And I immediately had three women around me mm-hming, and chatting like we had known each other for years.

Ah, pleasantries.

Here's to listening, being heard, breaking the ice, and speaking truths. Even when its not expected.

(picture/art courtesy of krog street, ne)