Conversare – time for a rain check

When is the last time that you had a great conversation, a conversation that wasn’t just two intersecting monologues, which is what passes for conversation a lot in this culture? But … a great conversation, in which you overheard yourself saying things that you never knew you knew? That you heard yourself receiving from somebody words that absolutely found places within you that you thought you had lost … a conversation that brought the two of you on to a different plane? … a conversation that continued to sing in your mind for weeks afterwards … I’ve had some of them recently … they are food and drink for the soul.* (emphasis added)
John O’Donohue (Irish poet), On Being

*Which is the kind of comment made by previous participants in Conversare events all around our little planet, 3rd from the sun.

Among whom are those who came along to the ‘meet and greet’ events which have been held in the Adelaide Central Market after trading hours on weekday evenings over the past few years. My associates and I are the only people who have used this space regularly in the nearly 150 years of the Market’s history.

Have you ever heard of social gatherings in which all present – young and older – engage in F2F conversation over a meal with a stranger? For the purpose of reminding everyone about what it means to converse – to turn or to dance together. Which is quite different – as the essence of our humanity – from ‘communicating’ or ‘connecting’ digitally on social media.

Does conversing – and having the skills to do this in our everyday lives – matter? New ways of thinking about this, among which is ‘The New Psychology of Health – Unlocking the Social Cure’  indicates that this is vital in many ways, among which is to alleviate loneliness – now reportedly widespread among people of all ages.

Unfortunately such conversing won’t be experienced in the Market in the near future. For the most supportive general manager has recently resigned and a replacement is yet to be appointed.

When this happens and provision is made for the resumption of these novel and enjoyable conversational opportunities we will post updates.

Looking forward

Al  

Al (formerly Alan) Stewart, PhD
Social Artist
Facilitator of conversations that matter and participatory fun

Senior Fulbright Scholar

Blog:  Conversare
Web:  Multimind Solutions
Mob: +61(0)413848680
eBook:  Time to converse – at heart of human warmth
Comments  on this book

Member: National Trouble Makers Union

Residence: Adelaide, South Australia, since 1975
With time away in the USA (1981) and Hong Kong (2005-2011)

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“Whenever we treat each other well good things happen.”
Al Stewart