You and me are a jumble of experiences [see photo]. And the weird thing about all of those experiences is that they set the framework for who we are, what we think, what we do, what we believe in, who we tolerate, and who we love. For example, I could never have become a minimalist if I had not had a number of special experiences that taught me what I need.
Book learning is an experience. Book writing [I have compiled four] is an experience. Book-based teaching is an experience. However... Those types of life experiences are not what I want this missive to be about. No. The life experiences I want to discuss here are simpler. For instance, I had a short conversation with a beautiful young women in my local Supermarket around two hours ago. The whole thing was brief. I initiated it. And she joined in with big smile and composed humility. A smile and humility is much more than I expected from such a simple exchange. When our conversation was over and I returned my focus on placing my shopping into my backpack she spoke again. "You have a nice day" she said. I looked up from the task at hand and I saw her smile and her humility. And I felt special.
I am lucky because I still know how to accept a smile from a stranger and I still know how to recognise humility in a person. Frowns and a distinct lack of humility are commonplace in the reports I see on my media these days. So to receive a smile and humility from a complete stranger in a crowded store is a special gift. Perhaps the life we are living can best be seen as a series of experiences. Experiences of good and bad, success and failure, love and hate, hot and cold, humility and humbug, smiles and frowns, etc.
Richard
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