Personal stories, small seemingly insignificant life events, how was your day, small chit chat with acquaintances and friends help.

Ever since I came back into my life energy, I like greeting strangers walking in the street, or waiters at restaurants where I frequent, the guy who makes shoes in the street corner, sometimes with the guard underneath my living building.

All of them have stories, good stories and not good stories. They share it with me. I listen to them with attention what they speak. They have so much to say. I have a lot to say.

That creates a great bonding between me and them. We open up with strangers. That's my experience. Known people sometimes pay no attention what you want to say.

Sharing stories with my group of English learners helps me personalize the experience. Again, I hear them speak about how they ended up where they are, and what's the plan. It's amazing to learn about other people's life, their journey, hardships, broken hearted tales.

The thing is, they share after I share and open up to my vulnerability. I met with a guy, very gentle he was. He cried sharing his life. I saw him cry and then he came back out of grief. I remained silent. I heard him, closely.

Life's happening around you. Notice.