BE OPEN

During my graduate school days I was required in my Community Counseling class to read the book, The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell. The words he so beautiful expressed made a profound impression on my life. The most important idea being the Law of the Few for I have taken the concept to heart and practice its principles on a consistent basis. Gladwell rolled the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) out of the world of economics and into the social world. The theory states that 80% of work is done by 20% of the participants and in the social world, Gladwell believes that all our social experiences can be attributed to 20% of the population in the form of 3 types of people we may either be or know. There is the Connector, who is the person we all know who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, etc. Then there is the Maven, who always has all the latest information, the latest gadgets, or the latest ideas. These are the people I dub the trivia wizards of the world. And finally there is the Salesman, or person who can talk you into trying, or buying or experiencing just about anything.
After reading this book I asked myself the question, who did I wish to be in this vast world of participants? My answer? The Connector. For I love to meet with, learn about and be around people. I love to take risks, try new experiences, taste new foods. I love to reach beyond my inner sanctum of friends and touch people from other cultures, other countries, other religions and more. I love both liberal and conservative people. I love learning about both the good and the bad. I love to participate in all kinds of situations with all kinds of experiences. But most of all I love to find the common denominator with others, connect in a meaningful way and stay connected to them. If I have a meaningful connection with another human being I want to continue to know about that person's life, at least occasionally. About how they are, what's happening with them and their families and what new information they have to share. And I don't connect because of what might come in handy for some future time and place but because I can learn so much about myself from learning about others. And the ultimate prize for me, is when I meet another connector. Why it's like dying and going to heaven for in an instant my network of people multiplies exponentially.
Now to the simple truth behind this book and behind the idea that awakened me so profoundly that I still practice this principle in all my affairs. The foundational characteristic of all three types of people is this. Be open. Open to new thoughts, new ideas, new religions, new views, new opinions, new perspectives, new situations......just be open. This has become my dogma, my mantra, my life.......be open to life and ALL its experiences for they all have some relevance and you never know, someday in the future you may know that person or know that information or have the ability to persuade someone that can bring peace and love to all and change the world forever.