I would consider myself extremely lucky when it comes to having people in my life with whom I can have genuine conversations with. From family to friends, I have been fortunate enough to encounter groups of people that challenge my intelligence while also stimulating my creativity.

As such, I found myself reflecting upon the benefits of these interactions the other afternoon and thought what better way to express my appreciation and thankfulness for having such conversations than to acknowledge all that I have learned from them.

1. There is no such thing as one right answer

Okay, I know that off the bat, this might not seem possible, especially for those of you that are math and science majors and want to tell me that 2 + 2 always = 4 and gravity undoubtedly exists. Still, this type of “right answer” stems from the idea that when you engage in a genuine conversation with someone, you are able to see different perspectives and open yourself up to discovering that perhaps there is not just one right answer in the world. Of course, some things can’t be argued, but for those that can be, argue them, test them, challenge them.

2. Everyone has a gift

Whether it’s the gift of empathy or the gift of patience, genuine conversation creates individuals to be so honest and upfront with one another, that such interactions occasionally turn into an appreciation for the others “gifts." You start to inform the other person of what you appreciate in them because the genuineness in the conversations you are having allows for you to see them for who they holistically are.

3. “How are you?” is NOT just a formality

It’s honestly sad to think about the fact that more often than not, when we ask someone how they are we aren’t actually curious, we are just asking as a means of being polite.

However, when you are having a genuine conversation with someone, you learn that asking someone how they are doing is not just a formality. When they ask, they really do want to know because they care about you and how you are doing, and it’s safe to say that is one of the greatest feelings.

4. You aren’t a surface level thinker

Maybe it’s just the people that I have in-depth conversations with, but whenever I conclude a conversation with these people, I find myself walking away with new-found knowledge consistently. We talk about things that are so much deeper than what we are learning in classes, and it results in the realization that maybe we aren’t surface level thinkers.

Sometimes, all you need is someone to inquire and delve deeper into your mind, and you don’t need a philosophy class to do it, you just need to sit down with someone who’s willing to be genuine with you.

5. You don’t have to talk every day

I might just be saying this because I’m thinking of someone specific here, but one of the most interesting concepts about those who we engage in genuine conversation with is that they generally aren’t people we talk to on a daily basis. Now, that’s not to say that you don’t have genuine, in-depth conversations with people you talk to every day, but it’s common that if you are talking on that regular day-to-day basis, you aren’t going to really inquire about the deeper things.

While it’s great to have those daily conversations with people you enjoy and love to talk to, there’s nothing better than taking the time to have in-depth conversations with people every once in a while, to catch up and discover more about yourself, their life, and the world at large.

So, if you’re someone who has that friend you seem to always have great conversations with, but you haven’t talked to them in a while, I encourage you to reach out. You never know how much better your day could get from a simple hour-long text exchange.