Thing to Do. Things to Learn.

I went to a concert last night. I met four new people through another friend. Although I was introduced to them properly, I continued my conversation with the people I already knew. Upon reflection of this particular behavior, I realized that I did not feel the need to invest in knowing these new people because I am about to leave this particular area of the United States.

I experienced a similar situation at the end of my last semester of college. I went to a group gathering by myself, but I did not have any issue sitting by myself. "Why does it matter if I introduce myself to anyone new here when I am about to leave?"

It hit me last night that I make friends and make an effort to meet new people for the wrong reasons. For me, making friends is a survival tactic. I enter a foreign environment, so I grasp and grip onto the people walking by because these people may be able to help me adjust, show me around town, give me social comfort.

This brings me to my new goal.

My goal for this year is to make an effort to learn one new thing from anyone and everyone that I encounter on a daily basis. Even if that one thing is what the grocery clerk thinks about how rainy the fall has been, I will have learned something new and taken the time to listen. You never know, I could find out something fascinating along the way.