What does it mean to truly have a conversation? People talk all the time, but I've found that the depth I associate with "conversation" is frequently lacking.
This is not inherently a bad thing. Not every interaction ought to be a communing of souls. It is perfectly healthy to ask for the potato chips without contemplating deep philosophy. However, I've found that as I truly do enjoy a good conversation, I've been learning to set aside time to have meaningful, soul-satisfying interactions with other people.
Over spring break, I went back to the small town where I graduated from high school. I only lived there for two years, but in that time I managed to forge several deep relationships. When I visited, I hadn't seen some of my friends in over six months, so the reunion was delightful.
There were two friends in particular that I spent an extended amount of time with. With one of them, I discussed matters of theology for hours. With the other, the conversation was geared more toward our lives, dreams, and ambitions. It was wonderful to connect with them, especially because I don't know when I'll be back again. Even though we'd spent so much time apart, when we came back together, it was as though nothing had changed, even though entire worlds had shifted.
After getting back to school, the conversations continued. One evening I met with a friend, and we discussed writing, world-building, and cultural values. It was like candy for my brain and I didn't want it to end. Despite being an introvert, the conversation energized me instead of draining me. It was absolutely marvelous.
The next evening, I met with one of my closest friends, and though we'd initially had other plans, we spent the entire afternoon and most of the evening together. It was luxuriously lovely. We talked about our identities, life experiences: the good, bad, and ugly parts of our lives. We truly relaxed together and bonded. Even thinking about it, I'm grinning from ear to ear. She and I have a lot in common, and even though I've known her less than a year, I can tell that this is a friendship that will last for the rest of our lives.
I feel so thoroughly blessed. I have found a place where my soul can flourish, where I can form and maintain fulfilling friendships through conversations. The back-and-forth exchange of ideas and experiences fills me with joy, and I am very thankful that this is simply the beginning of my time at college. I still have a lot to learn about communication, but I'm excited to see what conversations will happen in the future.
