Wednesday night in Denver, I went out to sample one of my favorite breweries: Great Divide. (Yes, that is a plug—unpaid. Always great tasting beers and extremely friendly employees.) I went by myself, which is always awkward and inwardly pitiful, but I wanted to go and, mostly, was looking for a place to watch game two of the Stanley Cup Finals (Go, Pens!). I thought I would try a couple beers that I had not tried and look for a place to eat and watch the game. Instead, I struck up a conversation with the guy at the bar next to me. Well, technically, he struck up the conversation, which is the real point of this story.
I am not one to initiate conversation—unless it is necessary and/or I know the person. This is, perhaps, one trait from which I divert from my father significantly. He can strike up conversations with anyone and, as a result has met countless interesting and sometimes famous people. I don’t know if my reticence is shyness or self-isolation. Either way, it causes me to miss out on opportunities to get to know people.
Jason, I believe was his name, it turns out had spent time in Grand Rapids, Michigan—near Holland, MI, where my wife and I lived for four years—about the time I was there. In fact, we went to the same church for some of that time. So, the conversation quickly evolved from “Have you had Great Divide before?” to beer in western Michigan and Oregon, churches, and the famous Hope-Calvin college rivalry.
It is amazing the commonalities we will find that we have with the person next to us if we simply speak. I admit I don’t take advantage of the opportunity. Thankfully, some people do.
The Social dimension of “well-centered fitness” is the pinnacle dimension. It develops and strengthens itself on the basis of the other dimensions (Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, and Emotional). In turn, it is critical to the growth of the keystone dimension, the Emotional dimension. It is important that we make the effort to grow Socially.
I always find it sad when I see students lining the hallways of the University staring at their smartphones and missing the opportunity beside them; or the table at a restaurant with a group of people engaged with their phones and not the people around them. While I try not to hide behind my phone, I do fail to take the next step to engage. Somehow, I need to overcome this and seize the opportunity to talk beer, faith, and rivalries.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow!
Carpe momento!