Good things happen when you listen.
Over the past couple weeks, I have had the pleasure of listening to two story-telling seven year olds, a comical culinary-lover from West Haven, an enthusiastic Cambodian entrepreneur and a rediscovered local musician.
On the MTA train to New York, there was an excitable group of two families, six children. Eavesdropping on their playful banter, I overheard one of the older boys say to another, 'Are we going to go south, all the way to Mexico and then South America?' After giving much thought to his own contribution, the other boy says, 'all the way to ancient Egypt. I hope I don't die. I'll be like 20 thousand billion years old by the time we get to ancient Egypt.' Listen and be inspired by imagination, to tell a captivating story.
In the car en route to the airport, my friendly driver immediately struck up conversation. Some days I have zero interest in conversing but this time there was too much excitement in this man's voice to ignore. He had stopped at a local eatery and was commenting on the delicious side dishes he ordered. From there he dove straight into his culinary feats--shrimp gumbo, potato crisp-dipped sole, and a reaaaal good steak, so good that it's 'how he gets the ladies.' Listen, acquire new recipes and let someone's enthusiasm brighten your day.
While in the lobby of my hotel on my third day in Phnom Penh, I was chatting with the owner. Recently back from the US after living in New York and DC for a combined 11 years, he had opened the hotel only 6 months ago, in January. A former diplomat working for the UN, he wanted to come home to his family and test his knowledge and experience in a new field. We laughed about the intense, high-strung style of NYC and shared our love for warm climates--his, Cambodia; mine, not winter. Listen and connect with the people you meet.
A rare occasion for me, I pulled up the lyrics of a song as I was listening to spotify. The song was by Chadwick Stokes, a member of the former band Dispatch. He has a single titled 'New Haven' and the familiarity of that city name caught my attention, as did the lyrics. Listen and let a song carry you 'home.'
Next time you're in line rushing to get your morning cup of coffee, listen. Next time you're walking or taking public transit, take out the earbuds and listen. Or, put in the earbuds and listen :) Next time you're on skype catching up with a friend, listen. Next time you're on the phone with your mother, listen.
And enjoy.
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