I have found myself seeking out these meaningful conversations a lot recently. I have been doing this just so I can learn. It is overwhelming  to know just how many resources are right at my fingertips, and that this process of learning never has to stop.

There are people who are perfectly fine with small talk. To me, small talk are the conversations that entail one or two words answers, and require little to no thought when responding. I call these conversations, “robot conversations,” because these are things we say and ask every single day. Now, the are nice gestures, I’m not saying otherwise. I’m just saying that small talk makes me tired.

In the recent weeks, I have had some of the best, most meaningful conversations that I have had in quite some time. Within these conversations I have been required to think. I have been required to think about what that person has asked of me, or about me, I have to think about in which way I want to respond, and I have to think about how my response is going to fulfill the initial conversation. Most of the time, these conversations help me answer questions about myself I never could before. These conversations help trigger ideas that were once stored away in my brain, that are now at the forefront of it all. These conversations help me stay humble. Humble? Yes. It is always a great reminder to know that this life, my life, is not all about ME. Conversations require TWO people. Just as I have to think about my response, I also need to think about my end of the conversation. How can I contribute to helping this person understand what they are wanting to figure out? 9 times out of 10, I feel all around better about my life when I have these intimate, meaningful conversations.

Most recently in this past week, I met a friend for coffee at a local coffee shop on my college campus. He really challenged me in ways I was not expecting. He asked me some questions about myself that were once not even a thought in my mind. He asked me about how and why I do some things in my life, and within answering his question, I allowed myself to understand that there is still room for growth. Most importantly, I got to see real parts of him. Our  conversation was two part discussion in which we both had to be vulnerable of some sense, in order to create and maintain that sense of fulfillment. It was one of the best conversations I have had in a very long time. It sparked this blog post.

Lastly, meaning conversations validate me as a person. They allow me to understand that someone  is willing to sit with me for an hour or so, and just ask, and listen. These conversations validate that what I feel, and what I think are important.

These conversations keep me going.