It’s finally done, I successfully moved to the Netherlands. Well, almost.
The only part that might be questionable is the successfully, just because I’m still staying on a friend’s couch who’s kind enough to host me until I find more permanent accommodation.
And I also missed a week of check-ins. In the past that would’ve freaked me out, I would’ve been angry at myself for breaking a streak, but now I just accept it. I had quite a bit on my table, with the moving and all that, and it’s just not that big of a deal anyways.
Onto the topic.
The thing that has been on my mind lately is random human interactions. You know, where you chat with the waiter in the restaurant, or the bartender while you wait for your drink, or just about with any stranger.
My father is the grandmaster of this kind of interaction. He just hits the right tone with everyone, and it’s magical how fast he can get along with anybody around him.
And I finally cracked the code, I think.
The secret is genuine curiosity towards everything. You have to be truly interested in what the other person can/wants to share. There are people on the other side of the conversation too, and everybody loves being listened to. And it’s just not enough to pretend to care. People pick up on that reaaaally fast.
That’s what my father does best, he goes into any situation with the curiosity of a child.
Everything is interesting, everything is exciting, and his enthusiasm just radiates from him. Nowadays, after years of practice, he doesn’t even have to say a word. He just stands in front of a shop, looking curious as he does, and the shopkeeper will approach him. Not to sell anything, just to chat a bit, because he feels this energy. It’s truly magical.
I think all of us can use a bit of serendipity in our lives, and a great way to introduce that is by talking to people. It seems scary at first, but you’ll quickly get the hang of it, and from then on it is second nature.
As always, thanks for reading, and I hope to see you next time,
G