Just Talk

            A few weeks ago I gave a presentation to a group of over-50 year olds interested in wellness.  My hope, in addressing this group of strangers in hard seats, was to explore the relationship between living an intentional life and being healthy.

            I asked the crowd to think of something that made them smile; then I asked them to talk about that “smiling something” with someone in the room they had not yet met. 

            I thought I could predict what would happen. I expected the tone in the room to warm.  But it was bigger than warm.  The room exploded into laughter and conversation.  It was musical!

            What was that like?  I asked.  They said, “Light.”  “Happy.”  “Peaceful.”  It was hard to stop them talking, connecting, relating.  I kept thinking, this is what “breathing easier,” looks like.

            I next asked them to imagine having a conversation about their own ailments or worries.  Might they predict for a moment how the tone and mood would differ?

            Together we had demonstrated our power in choosing our conversations.    

            Of course sometimes we need to find comfort for our pains and heartaches; of course sometimes we need to listen kindly to the worries of others.   But still I find myself thinking about those remarkable five minutes and how, with a happy focus, a group in hard chairs came to life.