The Art (and Power) of Conversation
I had a great conversation with a friend today. It was the first deep conversation I have had in quite some time. It still amazes me to this day how a deep, honest conversation with a trusted friend can put life in perspective, release some tension, and make one feel so much better about oneself.
We need to have more conversations in life, not arguments, not debates, but conversations. The definition of conversation is “the informal exchange of ideas by spoken words.” I think that is a great definition. Conversation by it’s nature is a two way exchange. One puts forth an idea or topic, the second party responds; then, like a spider’s web, what once was a single strand has been woven experty, beautifully, and seemingly unintentionally into a complex web of interconnecting thoughts and spoken words. For some reason, I really enjoy this process. I am absolutely terrible about relaying a conversation I’ve had with one person to another, but that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t paying attention or wasn’t completely captivated by the converstaion, its just that I can’t possibly relay the complexity and beauty of the innerworkings, the context switches, the subtle topical navigation that ensues.
I am striving to have more conversations, with friends, with rivals, with anyone who will participate. I don’t like hearing myself speak for the sake of stroking my own ego, but to engage in a stimulating conversation is sublime and extremely satisfying.
Here’s to hoping for many more conversations…