We would like to put a name to something that really doesn’t yet have a fitting and proper label. There are a lot of words that come close, but none that really nail it. We’ll describe what we are talking about first and then we can all argue about what we should call it.
It’s that blissful experience you have with a loved one when you are talking about absolutely nothing of importance, yet every word, gesture, attitude, is exuding love and appreciation. It’s the feeling of being in another’s presence without having to generate something interesting to say or put on any airs. It includes expanses of time when no one says a thing only for the silence to be punctured by one of you saying, “have you ever thought about…” or “I wonder what…” or some other such musing. It’s having the time and relationship to just sit and simmer in each other's random thoughts and passing notions.
Teenagers, although incredibly full of angst, tend to be able to have these types of experiences with their best friends easily, while adults often find this type of interaction awkward and look to “find something to talk about.” As adults, everything needs to have a reason and an objective. We don’t do as much getting together just to be together. And, it is much harder to find ourselves in the presence of others where we allow ourselves to just be.
So, back to the start. What do we call this type of interaction? The title of this newsletter gives a clue to what we might call it, chatting. But chatting has such negative connotations. And, what we are describing should be bottled and sold. What do you think it should be called?
To the art of ….
