Lately I have been seeing suggestions that people should try to engage with others who do not look, act or think like them. Carolyn Kirsch, of North Tonawanda, still thinks about a recent encounter. This is a possible way for us to begin to bridge the huge divide in our country.
We all know it exists; no one seems to think it is a good thing, but it is a difficult problem to even begin to address. I have started to sometimes engage more with others as I go about my daily life, shopping, doing errands, etc. When I was younger and was much busier in life, that was the last thing on my mind.
My goal was to finish the shopping or whatever I was doing, get home as quickly as possible and maybe even grab a bit of relaxation time. My life is different now, with no tight time schedule calling me to hurry back home. ` Today, my husband and I were on one of our day trips, this time to a lovely park and beach not far from our home.
It was an absolutely beautiful day. I sat on a bench by the water as he walked to see how far a path would take him along the shore. As a woman came near, we exchanged glances and I nodded hello to her.
She asked if I minded if she sat on the bench near me. I said it was fine. We were silent for a few minutes and then our conversation started, as conversations often do, with the innocuous topic of the weather.
She commented about what a beautiful day it was; I agreed. She said she wished there was a place to buy a certain cosmetic as she had to leave early th.
