Small Talk is too Small
They ask, what do you do for a living?
But I’d like to know what kind of initiative you take.
What’s the reason you get out of bed in the morning?
What puts you in a state of flow and concentration?
Are you aware of your infinite value and inherent worth?
They ask, what did you study?
But I’d like to know about your adventures.
What is holding your fascination today?
What kinds of questions do you ask yourself?
How curious and creative are you?
They ask, where do you live?
But I’d like to know how you’ve overcome adversity.
What do you really appreciate about where you are?
How are you expressing compassion there?
How much beauty do you see?
They ask, where are you from?
But I’d like to know what inspires your devotion.
What do you deeply desire and daydream about?
Where are you going and what is your highest goal?
How trustworthy are you?
They ask, maybe you know so and so?
But I’d like to know what satisfies you and brings you joy.
Do you like who you are when no one else is around?
Are you willing to disappoint someone
in order to be true to yourself?
They ask about the weather, the ball game, the meal…
But I’d rather know your vision of hope for the future.
How did you forgive that betrayal that tore you in two?
Can you celebrate the gifts and abundance of others?
Where do you summon fortitude and faith from?
They ask, do you have a spouse, children, or pets?
But I’d like to know how receptive you are to being loved.
What is the nicest thing someone could do for you?
How congenial, generous, patient, or egalitarian are you?
Do you feel understood and heard?
They ask, how old are you…
But I’d like to know if your soul is open and yearning.
Can you dance with abandon and sing in harmony?
Do you have the growth mindset of a life-long learner?
Are you fully alive with overflowing gratitude and love?
by Polly Castor
1/17/24
Related Articles
4 Comments
-
That’s, beautiful, Polly, and very thought provoking!
There is so much more to us that our material history would suggest! I shall be pondering and attempting to answer those questions myself today!!
Thank you for your wonderful insights and your daily sharing. X -
Excellent. Essential.
These questions give us access to meaningful relationships & empathy.
They bring substance to appreciating folks you value, or first meet.
They by-pass the shallow words wasted on trivial ‘small talk’.
Mrs. Eddy says, “If people would confine their talk to subjects that are profitable, …
— silence for the space of half an hour.” Misc. Writings p. 339. (FIX)True, limited ” small talk” can create trust and approval to visit,
BUT then one can better ask these earnest questions.
e.g. A friend toured the US, warming to strangers then asking
: ” What values bring you to this place ?” While he got lots of life stories, far better were the thoughtful insights and perspectives. … illuminated to reward both the stranger and my friend!Let us count the ways we can get beyond trivial data, and ditto data. so we can both
understand and appreciate our true substance. -
Thank you for this thought provoking poem and the questions it asks, very useful, like a tool for mental de-cluttering ❤️
-
Naturally I agree. It is sad to me that most humans seem to have a difficult time relaxing about whether they and/or their words will be judged…or misunderstood, etc. I usually go right for the meat…with as much love and warmth and smiles as I can muster, to try to put folks at ease. And endeavoring to know, as I believe, that there truly is just one Intelligence, just one God….Who…seems to get buried in … verbiage! But nevertheless, is with us, and in us, and…expressed as us, in the higher, truer sense! Good reminder, Polly, to stay on the High Road, conversationally.
With Love,
Sue
){kind=link}