Life | Self | Philosophy

Sometimes A Conversation A Minute Can Go A Long Way

If your heart is in it, it can do wonders for those you are conversing with and yourself as well.

Conversations are what fill our social voids. They imbue us with the opportunity to share our deepest yearnings for connection. I remember connecting with an acquaintance the other day, she reminded me of something another said to me really long ago.

“you just motivate me even by saying the mundane of things.”

I take compliments to heart, as I usually don’t receive them that much. So I just blush, as cheeky as I am. I said to her, “Thank you so much uwu.” From my retrospective, I put a lot of effort into a conversation. I enjoy it, as engaging someone in person is like the most thriving activity for me. There is another reason I do this because I want the other person to feel welcomed to know that they belong and can rejoice in the communication process.

One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever.— Linda Lambert

I usually have one-minute conversations with everyone I meet. I could be walking the street, would see a fellow stranger — tap my hat, would say “hello.” I do the same with children playing in the streets. Sometimes I might even stop to check how they are doing. It’s probably the most engaging feeling ever. I try to always appreciate people helping me with direction. A smaller conversation is always a nicer way to make others matter.

One day, I was jogging so I decided to take a break near the bus terminal. There was an old man, sitting waiting for the bus all alone. I decided to go there, and say “hello, sir — may I sit here.” He said, “of course” I sat downward and to start a pitcher. I went along with talking about the weather.

It was a cool Sunday afternoon, but I was heavily sweating. So it was really soothing. He asked me, “did I run a marathon or something.” I chuckled and replied, “I wish if I could, I would.” I asked the gentleman his name and I exchanged mine whilst shaking his hand firmly with a smile on my face.

So I asked, where he is off to — to break the ice. He replied he was off to meet his son and grandkids. He worked as a child clinician, and the holidays were coming around so decided to leave to visit his son.

I asked why he was sitting alone. He replied, “when you’re old my boy — travels such as this are done by yourself, I’m sure you can understand,” he said with a wink. I nodded with a smile, of course, uncle. He asked me what I did, and I told him that I live just nearby — So I asked him where his clinic was, to my surprise it was just two clicks away from my home.

After a few chuckles and few laughs, he asked me a very peculiar question if I was in a relationship or not. I told my dear uncle, that “I am a celibate” — he was surprised with a grim look on his face and uttered “preposterous” and said, “you’re a young lad — why do you need to be one?” I said calmly that I just don’t find it fascinating to be with someone.

Note that in a traditional sense, I just am — there are perhaps other reasons therefore I am. He told me that after 50 years of marriage, I am still a young lad even though I’m old I am young from the heart. I would still hop back on the horse, he winked If I had the strength he said, chuckling.

He told me there are many things in life that you need to experience, even if a specific religious reason or personal — you still have to experience certain things as without them life just seems blue. I nodded and was understanding what he was saying.

I told him that even though, I am — I still have relationships with people. It’s just there isn’t any sex or vice-versa. I just am not interested in that, be it personal reasons or religious. I usually don’t daddle in what could be, I summarized. He said, to me as follows for what seems to be a piece of advice I’d remember forever.

Listen well and listen good, you have to take a chance — I know being a celibate demands a lot of patience and courage, perhaps even resolve that I can feel from how you converse. You’re even much wiser than I am but if you don’t experience certain pleasures of life even if you are wise — it won’t matter as you’d be missing a great deal of what life is, and that’s a tragedy in my perspective.

I admitted to what he said and understood clearly. I said to him that I will consider my options more clearly. He helped me see a different side to life and everything in between. I was thankful honestly to have been grateful for taking the chance to meet and sit — perhaps for the entire conversation I had with him. It changed and added another perspective to the list of perspectives I have. I learned and thanked him afterward.

Soon after the bus arrived, and I asked if I could help with his bag. He lightly hit me, on the shoulder and said, “I might be old, but I’m not that old.” with a bright smile on his face. I insisted and loaded it into the bay. He said, “Thank you, for coming by and having a chat.” He hugged me and whispered something really kind and complimentary,

A random act of kindness, can go a long way. Thank you.

He shook my hand and bid farewell. Soon after the bus left, and I waved goodbye. I looked at the time, It was perhaps evening — Time flies when you’re talking your heart away, and sharing a deep bond with someone.

I started running again, this time at a faster pace. As I was happy to rejoice, in the lessons I learned from the dear old man, as the hope he imbued me with gave me an insurmountable amount of joy, saying my goodbyes. I run with a new hope to rejoice.

Thank you for reading.