Small Talk, Big Surprises...We never expected to hear this!
The holidays are one of our favorite times of year.
Growing up, among the season's preparations and decorations, we always enjoyed pulling down the box that was full of Christmas books.
Beautifully illustrated stories covered the pages that brought to life exciting tales of winter adventures, and of course the story of Christmas itself.
This got us thinking...everyone you meet has a story.
In fact, they probably have a collection of many fascinating stories and experiences they’ve accumulated over the course of their life that are just as spectacular, if not more so, than the ones you read in books!
But all too often, when we meet people for the first time or perhaps even when seeing familiar friends, it can be easy to stick to small talk, discussing trivial topics and never getting much below the surface.
We were at a party the other night, where we mingled with people in and out of rooms, sampling beautifully displayed hors d'oeuvres, and enjoying the views as the sun set over the horizon.
It was a lovely evening,
but then we had one conversation that stood out among the rest.
It started off like every other conversation...
We exchanged pleasantries and commented on the beautiful party. We asked how this person knew the host, and he responded with a brief explanation of his connection.
That easily could have been the end of it...
...but he mentioned something that caught our attention in a quick, passing comment.
So we said, “Wait. Can you tell us how that happened?”
We had to know.
Soon enough we were listening to a captivating story of his many travels around the world and even how he had worked for foreign royalty for several years!!
He lit up recounting the exciting tales of times past.
Who would have guessed?
This was the most unassuming individual, but he was a treasure trove of adventures.
We were so glad we had asked, and so was he!
Hearing his experiences was definitely one of the evening’s highlights.
Sometimes we forget to be curious or to stop long enough to listen to what someone is really saying before we respond.
When we’re so focused on crafting our own perfect reply or moving along, we can miss opportunitiesright in front of usto build connections, create memories, and learn from the experiences of others.
As we’ve made a point to be curious like this recently, we’ve learned so many interesting things about people and their lives.
So, in this busy holiday season, don’t forget to pause long enough to listen, to be curious, and to hear people’s stories.
You never know...the most thrilling adventures might be closer than you think!