The Collision of Worlds … In a Cafe.

Can conversations actually be music all around? Are we living in Different Worlds?

I was out for an appointment at a coffee place. When I arrived 5 minutes early, I placed an order for a cup of coffee almost immediately. I needed that caffeine boost before meeting the client. It was Friday late afternoon, and the local cafe was bustling with activity.

In a sense that Lady Luck smiled at me — I was blessed with an empty table when I collected my drink. A group of students decided to take their leave. I said my thanks, took the seat, and cleared the table on their behalf.

An empty table with a cup of smoking coffee looks beautiful. So peaceful. So serene.

I settled into the local cafe after a few sips. Coffee calms me. Then I checked my phone. There were no new notifications. I took a deep breath and then started observing my immediate environment. As usual, I was checking my emails and clearing the urgent ones before settling into the environment.

The external world opened up the moment I broke out of my inner cocoon. I didn’t realize that the local cafe is noisy. I was seated in the middle of 4 tables in pivotal bearings: — North, South, East, West — and I could hear their conversations coming my way all at once.

Without paying deliberate attention, these conversations seem to be muffled noise. It sounds like radio-wave distortions of the radio bandwidth not utilized for music.

When my ears perked up — I realized that 4 different Worlds exist within my vicinity.

The Table In Front Consists Of 4 Uncles.

They were talking about their Good Old Days. They were slapping each other’s hands, interrupting their friends as they attempt to seize the invisible microphone. I imagined them sharing their hero stories.

The Table To My Left Seats A Group Of 3 Students.

Draped in their uniforms, they were initially studying quietly. I presume that fatigue from academic cramming caught up with them. One by one, they extracted their smartphones from their pockets and started fiddling.

Then it erupted in a conversation about the post-examination bike ride. Students need an intermediate future that has nothing to do with studying.

The Table Behind Is Occupied By 2 Groups Of Parents, Each With A Child.

They were supervising their kids doing homework. I couldn’t observe their interactions as they were behind me. I could hear occasional volume spikes possibly along the lines of “That’s wrong!”. I am imagining, of course, though I doubt I am far off.

The Table To My Right Is Occupied By A Group Of Grand-Aunts.

They were the loudest group and possibly the reason I couldn’t really hear the conversations from other tables. For some reason, the more enthusiastic they got, the louder they got. One moment, it was about Bonzai. The next moment it was about grandchildren. And then, the routine morning exercise. Followed by routine bitching about who’s who. They had the fastest conversation topic turnaround.

Amazing.

All 4 Worlds collided right into me. Imagine Armageddon. Then imagine that multiplied by 4. And then I was hit with another salvo of amazement bomb. I felt a sense of disconnect. Isn’t this 2020? Aren’t we facing potentially the deepest recession since World War 2? If so, why aren’t people worried at all?

Maybe …

Maybe people are sick and tired of working. After all, elders are programmed to work hard for 40 years and then retire in peace during their Golden Years. Do they understand that the population dynamics have changed and there are less young supporting the retirees now? Maybe.

Maybe …

Maybe people are sick of hearing bad news, one after another. Thus, they swing to the other end of the spectrum. They are not concerned about the global economic recovery denoted by various alphabets.

They needed a beacon of hope, a form of personal development beyond the negative. It could be Bonzai, Pilates, Yodelling, hammering down Thanos with Wing-Chun, finally flying without traveling constraints through Tai-chi, and the list goes on.

Then Again, Maybe …

Maybe people needed an emotional anchor to feel better. That is why they spend their time on “The Good Old Days” instead of building a future lasting beyond generations. Maybe they also failed to recognize that our best memories aren’t dependable. They have a natural filter. We tend to magnify the good stuff and forget the bad ones.

I guess I might be jealous that I am working when others are not. But I am happy when I am working. Producing brings prosperity. Obesity in all forms follows massive consumption.

And while there are 4 different Worlds around me, I am creating the 5th.

This is a World where those working will be rewarded.

Cheers,

Aldric

Related Stories from the Author.

About the Author:

As a content contributor, I write my observations from daily life and from my business exposure.

Because our life experiences are the bedrock of our unique perspectives.

As a Consultant by training, I believe in making the complex simple.

Because simplicity adds value.

Simplicity helps us gain clarity, and clarity helps us to grow.

Follow me for my stories on Medium!

This is more “About Me”.

Do reach out and say hi on Linkedin!