Connection, Communication, Compare

Witnessing my surroundings more and more as people come in, I sense an aura of vibrant existence. You can’t really ignore it if I were honest. Interactions between baristas and customers, client meetings and gossip mothers, humble elders and energetic teens, each conversation is unique and pertains to that party only. While sipping on my latte and reading my book at the coffee house, I eavesdropped on some of the dialog. Each interaction I overhear feels like a window into someone’s world—from bad first dates and sibling drama, to struggles with health, political opinions, wedding arrangements, and over worked complaints. This got me thinking. People seem to thrive on connection, not only towards couples, partners or spouses, but in everyday conversations. Either good or not so good, this opens the door to understand each other on a deeper level. I believe what we share and receive will impact us to a certain degree. Connection can happen instantly or over time. Nonetheless, if you keep an open mind, you never know who you will impact or what wisdom is passed down to you. Even for those introverts who only talk with their eyes—they’re still communicating with you. Just keep a distance and nod if you come across one. You can’t go wrong with a nod, right? Though your energy may be drained, a smile needs no translation. Communication is vital to learn, adapt, educate, connect, protect, evolve, influence and much more. The only other ‘C’ word I’d recommend steering away from, is Compare. This can be a dangerous one. The funny part is we may not even be aware we’re doing it. I know I have and still working on it. It may look different for other people; however, it can deem to be innocent. Unfortunately, the road may lead you down a wrong path over time. Whenever I feel the nerve to compare, I try to question where it came from? Why did it surface? Is it something from the past? Sometimes I get clarity, other times I don’t. But life teaches us great lessons. I’d say, if at all possible, lead with empathy. We do not know the other persons story, and at the same time how often we can be critical in our lives. To that degree, being empathetic with oneself is also valuable because when displayed out into the world, it becomes contagious. Now I’ll say that not every comparison is bad either; but more likely than not, we tend to veer on the negative side of the fens. Sometimes it generates positive motivation, encourages great values, self-improvement, etc. We are meant to be social. Social is healthy. No matter what level on the social interaction spectrum you’re at, there’s always someone that speaks your language.