Oh this touches on so much I’ve been pondering recently. Particularly, I’ve been thinking about the first conversation I have with someone — whether meeting them for the first time or catching up with a friend after a long time apart — and how to sidestep the usual surface level chit chat (how’s work? any holidays planned?) that feels so transactional and to have more meaningful interactions. A friend and I have started keeping/swapping lists of more interesting questions to ask, like “what’s put you out of your comfort zone recently?”, or “when was the last time you went down a rabbit hole?” “what’s something you’ve failed at?”
Your phrasing of “locating the right plane” hits exactly at something I wrote about in my first essay (Cosmic Pinball) and the constant dance I feel I’m in right now, trying to navigate conversations with friends whose life paths are diverging in all sorts of directions. I likened it to the board game Herd Mentality, if you know it, where you’re trying to answer in the majority. Maybe it’ll resonate with you too! Thank you, as always, for sharing 💛
I'm trying to find this reference: "The Great Conversation by Terry Tempest Williams". Is it an interview? Apparently she doesn't have a book with that title.
Hi, Gab. The reference you're interested in is an excerpt from Irish poet, theologian and philosopher John O'Donohue's conversation with Krista Tippet of On Being. Here's a link to the fascinating interview . . .
Hi, Nicole. What a wonderful post! After reading your post I thought you may find Kalina Silverman's "Big Talk" movement of interest. Her website is: www.makebigtalk.com
I read this post at a time when I’ve been thinking a lot about how hard it is to say what I really mean and to fully understand someone else through conversation without the radical presence you note here;
I’ve also been reading David Bohm’s On Dialogue recently and i think you might enjoy that essay collection. It says the latin roots of the word dialogue suggests building something in common with those who are participating, and how good conversation sometimes feels even more intimate than physical contact (like floating, as you quoted) - because it’s where an extension of the self meets another and shares an understanding.
Anyways, love this post, thank you for writing so beautifully about an important topic !
The cost of having good conversations is having to go through all the failed attempts at starting them. An enjoyable read.
Oh this touches on so much I’ve been pondering recently. Particularly, I’ve been thinking about the first conversation I have with someone — whether meeting them for the first time or catching up with a friend after a long time apart — and how to sidestep the usual surface level chit chat (how’s work? any holidays planned?) that feels so transactional and to have more meaningful interactions. A friend and I have started keeping/swapping lists of more interesting questions to ask, like “what’s put you out of your comfort zone recently?”, or “when was the last time you went down a rabbit hole?” “what’s something you’ve failed at?”
Your phrasing of “locating the right plane” hits exactly at something I wrote about in my first essay (Cosmic Pinball) and the constant dance I feel I’m in right now, trying to navigate conversations with friends whose life paths are diverging in all sorts of directions. I likened it to the board game Herd Mentality, if you know it, where you’re trying to answer in the majority. Maybe it’ll resonate with you too! Thank you, as always, for sharing 💛
I'm trying to find this reference: "The Great Conversation by Terry Tempest Williams". Is it an interview? Apparently she doesn't have a book with that title.
Hi, Gab. The reference you're interested in is an excerpt from Irish poet, theologian and philosopher John O'Donohue's conversation with Krista Tippet of On Being. Here's a link to the fascinating interview . . .
https://onbeing.org/programs/john-odonohue-the-inner-landscape-of-beauty/
Brian
Thank you!! I linked the wrong reference and will correct it on the post
Thank you, Brian!
Hi, Nicole. What a wonderful post! After reading your post I thought you may find Kalina Silverman's "Big Talk" movement of interest. Her website is: www.makebigtalk.com
Warm regards,
Brian
I read this post at a time when I’ve been thinking a lot about how hard it is to say what I really mean and to fully understand someone else through conversation without the radical presence you note here;
I’ve also been reading David Bohm’s On Dialogue recently and i think you might enjoy that essay collection. It says the latin roots of the word dialogue suggests building something in common with those who are participating, and how good conversation sometimes feels even more intimate than physical contact (like floating, as you quoted) - because it’s where an extension of the self meets another and shares an understanding.
Anyways, love this post, thank you for writing so beautifully about an important topic !
Thought provoking article. Love it