Seven billion. That is the amount of people who are living on Earth. 319 million of those people live in the United States alone. That means there are millions upon millions of stories to be told and appreciated. Why does this matter to you, you may ask? Let me tell you a story.
One day over Christmas break, I went to my favorite coffee shop. Now I like to believe that it is a hidden gem, but in reality, it is a well loved and appreciated place. This meant when I got inside, every single nook and cranny in the whole building was packed. For this reason I almost decided to enjoy my drink in the car. But to the front door, a lady stopped me. She mentioned that she was sitting alone at her table and that I was more then welcome to occupy the other seat. I graciously accepted her offer. After sitting down, I opened my book to read (yes, I am a bit of a nerd). But before I could, she said. "Tell me your story."
I had no idea how to respond, I mean, I had a serious case of stranger danger. Sensing my reluctance, she spoke instead. With a smile, she told me that her name was Rose and she was 77 years old. She had worked as a nurse her whole life and had been to 17 countries, and visited all but three states. She reads for fun (love that!) and enjoys a good cup of Joe. She had lost her husband this past year and picked up piano. She had a dry sense of humor and a giving heart. Rose, told me her story.
It might have been brief, but Rose taught me a lesson. She reminded me of the goodness that exists in the human heart while teaching me about the power of a story. She showed me that in a matter of five minutes, we had reached a common basis. We were both humans with a want to love and a passion to live. She taught me that though we were different in some ways, we were similar in so many more. So here is why it should matter to you.
With so many tragedies, it has become crucial for humanity to reach out to one another. To learn about the simple stories, and the ones that take hours to tell. To appreciate our common basis of being human. To recognize that we all have a beating heart and blood running through our veins. That though there are differences, we share commonalities. That we are all important and all have a story to tell. So here is what I encourage you to do, reach out. That person standing in the long line with you? Say hi, hold a conversation. Reach out of your comfort zone. You would be surprised the wisdom you will gain and the days you will change. I certainly spent some of my best hours to date, sitting at a coffee shop talking to a stranger, I now call my friend Rose.
