Bursts of energy come to me, as I sit and listen to the story you tell. Eager to relate my thoughts I stifle my response. Instead, I take bits and pieces of your conversation into my heart. I understand that in this moment, I am here only to listen and bear witness. I look around the communal room and see others doing the same. As we all share our lives with one another, the party too comes to life.
Through our mind’s eye the text of the stories form, generating more thoughts and more exchanges. Oh, what fun evolves through the ebb and flow of our colloquial pleasantry. An invisible blanket made from the warmth and love of smiles, laughter, and subtle gestures of friendship. We all are touched by this experience.
Our conversations dance to the rhythm of the contemporary music, as thoughts of the known and the unknown start to unfold. What will we tell each other? What will we reveal? Each of us taking our turn. One by one the words ping-pong back and forth. Our banter moving each other to places familiar and places yet unseen.
Before too long an interruption, or a distraction disrupts our contact; and our awareness of the occasion gently nudges us to move on. Did we get too familiar? Did we say too much?
Time to share more stories with someone else… Perhaps.
July 2024