Switched On or Regurgitating?

It isn't uncommon for me to start up conversations with strangers. If they aren't feeling conversant, or only supply me with a polite acknowledgement, I'll leave them be. Sometimes, however, these little interjections can turn into conversations that last a few hours, bouncing from one topic to another, like a kid jumping in puddles after a storm has passed.

Most of these interactions usually occur in bars, as people are relaxed, happy (and getting happier by the glass!) and not AS cautious of total strangers invading their personal space ‘bubble’. However, there are moments out there in the sober light of the real world, that people are also open to such exchanges.

Whilst I was sitting at one end of a bench seat, another (not unattractive) man at the other, a homeless bloke was doing the Friday pre-peak hour request for spare change. He could barely open his eyes. He passed from me to my fellow bench-sitter and then quickly made his way to a near-by gathering of humanity, after failing to solicit anything from either of us. I looked to my companion, saying, “He’d probably have a little more success if he opened his eyes a bit.” (I knew he wasn’t sight-impaired having been approached by him on numerous occasions, previously). He replied, “Or work for a living, like the rest of us!”

After a brief pause, during which a string of thoughts Warp Factor 9-ed through my mind, I threw another line out there. From the personal development books I have read, I observed that he might actually make a good salesman, seeing that he had already been conditioned in dealing with rejection and knew that it was a numbers game. After various turns, the conversation steered to why my chat-buddy was there, staring down at his phone.

He had just had received some rejection of his own, from his girlfriend. We chatted for a while, and recalling ideas and strategies that I had read about in my books, we talked about how one deals with such rejections, and love in a broader sense. He then said something, which spurred me on to this 500. “You seem like you’re pretty switched on!” Soon after, I had to leave.

So: am I REALLY ‘switched on’? God knows I’ve had little experience with love, but a good deal with rejection. Or was I really just regurgitating ideas and vague platitudes, moulding them to suit the topic at hand? Did they sound like words of wisdom to this young man because he wanted/needed to hear them? Or, as touched on during our conversation, was it just that I was willing to listen, rather than just dismiss it with, “Shit, that’s no good.”, and leave him. Or am I subconsciously modelling the techniques of the personal development gurus, seeing that a lot, if not all, usually rehash core material with their own personal spin on it?

The answers to these questions can be found at my next seminar. Book early to avoid disappointment, this offer is only for a limited time, tickets are selling fast, secure your seats TODAY!