Maybe I don't understand it. Or other people suck at it or I simply dont care enough. What is it? Small talk.
Talking about the weather... certainly we can do better. I'm in Connecticut, its cold. We can move on.
But as I mentioned yesterday, things can easily turn into complaints. Likely the reason why I try to avoid small talk.
Current events, don't interest me much. This plane crashing. Some new report on how band-aids cause cancer. I get it, everything causes cancer or contributes to it.
Politics - only if you can have an intellectual conversation. As soon as you mention, "I like Trump, he says it how it is..." I am done with the conversation. That is the most uneducated, ignorant thing anyone can say. Let's talk about his lack of experience, his disgusting behavior, hate speech, ego/power trips and who he's decided to work with him in the interest of all Americans. We can move on.
I don't mind small talk as a way to get to know someone. To see what inspires them or what they like.
So I find myself talking about books they've read and why. If they have traveled recently, and where and their experience. Learning about the hobbies of others and what they get from them, talking about kids, family, or the latest recipe made at home - all interest me.
I don't care for sports. And talking about work, could be okay. Except we are more than what we do for a living. The typical exchange on work I hear pertains to how busy they are, how hectic things have been, how much they have been running around and lastly, the promotion they just received. Often times I ask if they enjoy or love what they do and the answer is "no,"
Maybe I'm looking for people with similar intellectual interests or depth. Maybe people living interesting lives or moments. Maybe people that love the work they do. Redefining small talk, should be a directive for us all. I believe that we should all genuinely care to do it, have something to contribute that feeds positive conversation and do it to get to know someone. Even if you'll never see them again. We are all tied together in community, in society, right here on earth.
Help me, redefine small talk and make it mean something.