My resolution: listen more

I am continually amazed at people’s stories — not just the famous ones. Every story, regardless of how well known the person, is important and unique. Only one person can tell your story: you.

So each opportunity to hear a new perspective, a new experience, changes your experience, shifts your perspective. There will be a moment during the conversation where someone expresses an idea that is new to you in some way. You stop mid-thought and recognize a new idea, a new expression, a new experience. You don’t necessarily acknowledge this shift at the time. Later when you think about it though, you’ll make note of the change, if only to yourself.

It’s this change that keeps me talking to new people. Everyone needs this variety in life. If we only talk to the same people about the same things all of the time, we stop growing and experiencing life in its richness.

It reminds me of my favorite scene in the movie Ratatouille. Remy the Rat is explaining to his brother about how incredible an experience food can be — how the flavors layer one on top of the other like instruments in an orchestra, until there is a symphony of flavor on your palate. It is this same melding of new people and new ideas that creates a symphonic life. You get my meaning.

If the idea of sharing ideas and experiences with new people doesn’t appeal to you, what if you just shared new ideas with people you already know? I understand that people have comfort zones, so all of this boundary pushing could be a little much. So, a baby step could be to read something new and share what you read with someone. It could spark an incredible conversation. I guarantee that you will not experience anything run-of-the-mill or ordinary in the exchange. And imagine what could happen. You could find a new interest, learn someone new about someone you thought you knew. You might even inspire someone else.

Everyone has the opportunity to live a life filled with rich experiences and conversations. Regardless of where you live, what you do or who you encounter just living your life, there is always the possibility of a life enriching experience.

With this New Year, we have been granted more time to find ways to add richness to our life; new conversations could inspire you to try a new food, read a new book, listen to a new band or even go back to school. So if you see me out somewhere, come up and strike up a conversation, I’m always up for it. I can always use a richer life!