If they allow themselves to be, other people are interesting.  Recently I have made it my business to soak up as much wisdom from strangers as possible.  If they let their guard down and tell me something personal, it makes for  a really neat and memorable conversation.

I sat next to three lovely women on three recent plane rides and got three life stories, all of which helped me interpret my own, if only just a little.  I also listened to a heart-wrenching story of a woman’s regret for having divorced the one man that she truly loved and wanted back.   I won’t soon forget any of those people, strange as they were.

It’s just sad how conventionally we speak to one another.  I ask you how you are, and regardless of your boiling inner turmoil, you answer “Fine!” or “Good.”  These interactions are just bullcrap.

And when considering how in love with gossip people are, you would think they would want to hear more about how you’re not doing well because your wife left you to be a reality television star.  Plus, it feels good to get those painful feelings off your chest.  It’s win-win.

If today you were to ask me how I was, I would tell you: “Extremely unsettled to be going into my first winter without a contract to play baseball in the upcoming spring.”  Also, despite having an incredible weekend, I would likely break into a diatribe about how crappy I think Maryland weather is.

Thank you so much for asking!