|
|
|
Dear
Barbara, |
Struggling souls catch
light from other souls
who are fully lit and
willing to show it.
~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes
|
|
 |
Upcoming Events |
Las Vegas, NV
April 10 & 11
Edmonton, AB
April 24 & 25
Sacramento, CA
May 1 & 2 |
|
|
OH, THE PEOPLE YOU'LL MEET |

On
my recent trip to Seattle, my
travels were enlivened by
conversations with strangers
along the way. That got me
thinking about a frequent
traveler I know who confessed
that he finds it difficult to
talk to strangers and wondered
how I do it.
Since my Do Talk To Strangers
Policy is a vital component of
traveling, I started to consider
how I actually go about it.
Some of it it purely intuitive.
For instance, when a stranger
plunks down next to me on an
airplane, I take a breath, take
a look and see if I'm moved to
start a conversation. Most of
the time I get it right. Once in
a while, I know from my opening
question that my seatmate is
inclined toward solitude and I
stop there.
Whether you're standing in line
at the post office or waiting
for a train, here are a few
ideas to help you uncover the
fascinating folks around you.
-
Make it a game. Decide
ahead of time that you want
to find an interesting story
or inspiring acquaintance. I
have been on long flights
that seemed to pass in a
moment because I had landed
next to a great
storyteller.
-
Don't wait. Instigate. Be
willing to be the one who
takes the first step. A
griendly smile is a good way
to test the water. If it's
not reciprocated, move on.
-
Look for common
ground. I
often open a conversation
with a compliment or
observation about something
the stranger is wearing or
carrying or something that's
happening around us.
When I hopped into a London
taxi that was covered in
promotional material for the
Rolling Stones, I suspected
I had a fascinating chat
ahead of me. And I did.
I learned that my driver was
the only cab in the city
promoting the Stones, that
he earned an £750 a year by
putting advertising on his
cab. He was hoping he might
get tickets to a Stones
concert as a bonus.
-
Be politely curious. Our
reluctance to talk to
strangers may be caused by
thinking it's about us.
Wrong. It's about them. Yes,
you might be subjected to a
tedious story now and then,
but it's worth the risk.
One of my most memorable
conversations was with a young
man who was a linguistic
professor who spoke seven
languages. When I asked him the
best way to learn a new language
his replay was, "Be a kid." I
laughed and asked, "What's the
second best?"
Those are the moments that keep
me talking to strangers who
unknowingly enrich my life. Like
with everything else, it gets
easier with practice.
|
EXPAND YOUR
HORIZONS AND MEET INTERESTING STRANGERS |
Right
from the start, my seminars brought
curious participants who were ready to
create the next chapter in their lives.
Best of all, showing up at a Joyfully
Jobless Weekend is an opportunity for
explorers to find one another.
(Misanthropes don't usually join us.)
If you're ready for such an experience,
here's where you can find us in the next
several weeks investigating Making
a Living Without a Job, Establish
Yourself as an Expert and I
Hate Marketing.
Las Vegas, NV April 10 & 11
Edmonton, Alb, April 24 & 25
Sacramento, CA May 1 & 2 (rescheduled
due to illness)
|
PEOPLE SAY THE NICEST THINGS
|
After reading your book, many years
ago I drove up from Huntington Beach to
take your class in Sacramento. I bought
a cassette recorder at a store in
Sacramento to record all the thoughts I
had on that drive home..an 8 hour drive
and 2 tapes' worth of ideas!
~ Kimber Smith-Fidler
Barbara literally wrote the book on
joys and challenges of the
entrepreneurial lifestyle: Making a
Living Without a Job. She's been living
the life herself for several decades,
and never ceases to be an inspiration to
those interested in doing the same.
~ Colorado Free University
It was a really great group you drew
together. What a wonderful opportunity;
and a thoroughly enjoyable, stimulating
and growth-provoking time.
~ Diana Lynn
|
|
Buon Viaggio,

Barbara Winter
P.S. On occasion, I may receive a
commission or compensation when you
participate or purchase a product or
service I recommend. That being said, I
strive to always offer useful content
and resources in each issue of Joyfully
Jobless News.
|
|