A penny for a thought

The other day during a Book Club discussion ("The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver), one friend was describing to the group how she grew up in a very very rural area and how she thinks there's a different "rural" mindset that exists and how because of that she has a hard time finding something to talk about with the woman who was her best friend all through growing up (who is still living in that rural area). She obviously viewed her own choices as the "better" life path. At this point in the discussion, one of my other friends responded, gently, that there are still commonalities - for example, as women, mothers, a member of a family, childhood experiences, etc. - to be found.

It was just a sentence stated simply and kindly, but it's stuck with me. To get the most out of life, to learn to sincerely love people, to become (and remain) humble and selfless, we can look for the common ground with the individuals around us. I think the implications of this are enormous, especially as I continue to unravel the idea. I find that when I start feeling particularly down, it's usually because I'm isolating myself, one way or another, from the world around me. But, really, we're all humans and deal with human things - even that most elementary fact does and should place us all on "common ground."

I'm having a hard time doing justice to the impact of this idea on my outlook, but don't you just love stumbling upon a tidbit that totally changes your thoughts and maybe even habits? Love it.