Had a little moment earlier too. Something that I really like doing is talking with people about something they know more than I do on- of course, in the age of information, I could just quietly research something on my own. (And I often do. It’s a habit we have in common, digging into random, inconveniently timed deep dives.)
But there’s something really charming about learning from someone else- the warmth in how people’s eyes sparkle in excitement, they might gesture loosely with their hands, and their voice usually broadens a little, warm with the pleasure of being able to talk about something they really care deeply about, and love. It’s a really magnetic moment- to see how people bloom with delight, and to help maintain that little burst of happiness for them as you engage.
I could just look it up in a reference book, or crawl through online databases. But it’s that human moment of connection I really like.
Unfortunately, sometimes this gets misinterpreted as stupidity- people can be surprisingly cruel, and I’ve often had that earnest interest be met with a derisive smirk and snarky comment on my intellect (or supposed lack thereof.) The point isn’t just for the sake of knowledge- a textbook can give me that. The point, really, is the interaction. I’m chatting with them because I care about what they want to say, and how they feel, and I’m interested in what unique perspective they might have. So it’s doubly hurtful, honestly- to be dismissed as being stupid, but also not worth having a proper conversation with.
Anyways, that’s why I really cherish it when someone dives right into things with me. Patience might not be chief among my virtues, but it’s one I try to exercise- and one I deeply appreciate in others. It is an effort to be kind, and to be patient, and I know that first hand- and it feels good to know that someone else recognizes that curiosity as not a demonstration of lacking, but a want to get to know them a little better. What you choose to share about a subject, the way you deliver it, if you offer up any fun trivia and what that trivia is- it all says a lot about someone. You can learn a lot about people when they talk about what they love. And it’s really beautiful, when people are aglow with joy and when you can pick up on their excitement, or pondering over how to best share information they’ve curated over their years.
It was a silly little conversation, about the price of labour and plushkittys. But It meant a lot to me that Pinkz was, as he always has been, patient, and engaged with the conversation at hand. He’s never been cruel about my often quite silly questions. It’s funny when he’s playful right back, and I really enjoy our conversations. Even when he can’t answer right away, he puts a pin into it and returns to it later- that sort of thoughtful consideration is really wonderful. It says a lot about his character.
I’m happy that we’re friends. It was nice to reflect on that happiness.
