Ah, the lessons taught to me this week, may I remember them next week, too.
Lesson 1:
"Top up or top down?"
"You live in California. Top down! I'll always say top down!"
Experience life. Let the wind blow through your hair.
Lesson 2:
"You know how her car was broken into? Well, nothing of hers was stolen, but we later realized that two of my bags were stolen."
"What?!? That sucks! What did you lose?"
"I lost ... but, eh, it's okay. I deal well with loss."
Material possessions can be replaced. If they're lost, accept their loss and move on.
Lesson 3:
"I think people are the greatest fun."
Alright, here's the big one.
I'm not sure when or where I grew into suspecting people first, trusting them second. Certainly after college (I'd have to guess Amerigon if I were to guess at the source of much of my cynicism and suspicion). I probably had seeds of mistrust born from the awkwardness and self-consciousness of adolescense, but they didn't take root until that first "real world" job.
But having those (even tiny) suspicions meant I immediately put up a barrier between myself and everyone I met. I certainly wasn't open to learning who these people were, what motivated them, what interesting problems they were solving, what joys they found.
When I started dating Kris, he was amazed at how bitter I was at the world. He would teasingly mock me for my bitterness: "Life's not fair. The world is out to get you. Blah, blah, blah. So, can we move on?"
Step one, in learning the world isn't so bad.
Why he stuck with me through that step is beyond me.
Eventually, I figured this place isn't so bad. Ultimate, with its open and welcoming community, helped a lot. The group of friends from ultimate, acquaintances through best friends, fluctuated, but was always full of amazing people.
Step two, in learning the world has some good people in it, if you know where to look.
And then there's this week's final lesson.
It's a lesson
I was finally open to receiving. That I could stand a door and say hello to a hundred people I had no idea who they were (but who, for the most part, seemed to know each other) amazes me a bit. Doesn't surprise Kris, though, who seems to think I'm a social butterfly (at least when I try to leave from an ultimate tournament and it takes me 45 minutes to cross 3 fields).
I'm comfortable around people I know. But for the first time, perhaps ever, I was (almost) comfortable around people I didn't know.
I think step three of this week's third lesson will take a little longer to sink in. At least I've started.
The third lesson?
People are the greatest fun.
