Acceptance - My next challenge.

[25yearsmlc]

Arsene,

just a quick suggestion on your goals. Not sure where this one would fit but after a workshop I attended once, I chose to make it a goal to have an actual, genuine conversation with at least one NEW person every day I went out

(I didn't count days at home, but if I worked that day or went shopping or to an event, took the kids to the park, etc, I counted it).

If I sort of knew the person, the goal was to become more disclosing and interested in them, b/c disclosure builds intimacy and b/c I wanted to CONNECT with other people NOT in my field or my h's field. IF I did not know them, the goal was to converse enough that I'd get a name from them.

It helps with the snobbish tendencies professionals can get into the habit of, and it helps your child learn openess, kindness and empathy...as it helps US with the same.

When you go to those market booths, or take a class, really truly

CONNECT with someone in a new way...not a 2 min exchange but an honest conversation.

It's like Dale Carnegie's book "How to Win Friends &Influence People" says, "find a genuine thing about them which you like AND notice it, verbalize it" and it just oils the machinery of socialization.

Carnegie also said "everyone we meet can teach us something of value"...and I mean everyone.


This simple (but sometimes uncomfortable) task was a KEY to some real growth for me.

It was Amazing what doors it opens and what insights flow

AND how many more people and love you'll have in your life. The best job I ever had was b/c of a random conversation I had with someone on an airplane...(turns out, he was the founder of a large corporation, had political connections and after WE connected in a long conversation, he hired me. First, he introduced me to the President of the USA at a White House function!)

(Oh, and fyi, he's 80 y/o, so there's no affair intentions on either end, trust me...)

Food for thought.