Conversare – simple and deep, a spiritual adventure

It’s as simple as this:  Come along to a local, friendly public place, mix informally over drinks, be welcomed by the host who outlines brief guidelines, order food. When this is ready to be served, find someone you don’t know and have your meal with that person. Then join with another pair to share the experience. Have a wrap and go home.

And it has a depth which many appreciate intuitively. For when introduced to the fact that this novel kind of socialising is now available in Adelaide the invariable response is “What an interesting idea.” Which is not surprising as there are elements of the experience which are quite different from the way we usually get together, dimensions which are missing from much of our everyday way of being.

There are, naturally, diverse practical reasons why people don’t follow up, such as other commitments at the time when these events (once a month at present) are held. Plus “I am not in Adelaide!”

And likely other reasons for those who are, such as ‘I have enough on my plate’ and ‘My social circle of family and friends is sufficient; I have no need to meet new people.’

Fair enough.

What you may find, as have those who have participated, is that these events provide the opportunity to engage with others who, in the course of your habitual life, you would not ever likely encounter. People who have backgrounds, experiences and stories which you could not have imagined.

To do so in a way which enables a much deeper, more conscious connection than a chance meeting on a bus or a plane.

And that the listening and questioning inherent in talking for an extended time is both enlivening and enjoyable – and a reminder of how little these happen in our customary living.

What prompts people to come along? Curiosity? A feeling that it’s good to talk? To experience the human warmth which happens when all present treat each other well? A sense of stepping into the unknown in a context in which it is not too risky to do this? A desire to expand one’s social universe and the associate ‘people skills’ necessary to do this?

And an intuitive knowing that here is a way to connect deeply and respectfully with others who represent humanity, no matter who they are?

All of these, and more, may be realized. Not necessarily, naturally, in a ‘one off’ experience. As others have found, persistence pays! In doing this you may find like minded spirits with whom you get together in other contexts.

Are you up for such an adventure, which may indeed turn out to be as described above?  Can you think of other situations in which this approach could be of value?

Alan Stewart
Adelaide

“People were actually having conversations with strangers on the underground on matters other than stepping on toes; previously unheard of.”
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

Boris said this in the euphoria of the success of the recent Olympics and Paralympics.  Could ‘talking well with strangers’ become a generator of the pleasure which gives rise to such euphoria?

What can happen? <smile>