One of the greatest gifts I ever received was a simple statement from my Dad...learn something from every person you meet. I was a teenager then...and was fairly convinced that my Dad was losing it!
What does that even mean...learn something from every person? I mean every time he talked to me he stammered, stuttered, and turned brilliant-red, during each conversation we had in my teenage years.
It wasn't until I had children of my own, enter their teen years, that I finally understood he wasn't an idiot, he was angry and frustrated by my inability to listen. I am fifty-one now...sorry Dad...I finally get it!
After my children lifted the veil from eyes, I began to really consider the brilliance of my parents. The lessons they offered that went ignored, and the realization that it was not too late to pay them heed!
Since that epiphany, I have made a strong effort to try, and take lessons from the people I meet, and thus become a little wiser. Some of my customers are teachers, they are good teachers, a few are professors, they have the difficult job of influencing and persuading children and young adults that their education is the most important thing they will do in their lives. They do it with a combination of intellect and creativity that is inspiring.
I walked away from meeting each of these people with something, a lesson in patience, a creative suggestion for
teaching a life skill, or practical way to illustrate a lesson.
In fact in my forties and fifties, I have not yet met anyone who didn't have something of value, if I took the time to listen.
Sometimes the lessons are more valuable than others, but it is always worth the time! So here it is history repeating itself...learn something from every person you meet!
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