Do You Write and Think Outside the Lines!

New York City in August----What could be better?  It was a day of motivational inspiration---sharing the speaker platform at the Hyatt in Manhattan,  for National Seminars amidst an audience of over 250 business leaders.

Amazing to watch the brilliance of fellow speakers on a broad range of topics...diversity, human resources and words that impact the human spirit.  Among the speakers, Gail Cohen, author of "Thinking Outside the Lines"--I highly recommend it as an addition to your library.

It was therefore on the way home, that perhaps I had the most intriguing conversation with a pilot sitting next to me.   I was writing notes during the "no lap-top" take-off when Roger, a pilot for American Airlines and my delightful seat mate for the trip,  said "excuse me but  do you know you write outside the lines?"  "What a compliment I replied--I must be creative" but "you surely can't fly a plane" he laughed and smile.   Roger and I shared one of those conversations where you shake your head in amazement at the gift of sharing an hour or two with a complete stranger who has a completely different frame of reference. My mother once told me when you meet someone new , it's like taking a small vacation--you get to go somewhere you've never been.  During this flight, I entered the precise world and logic of an aviator.

I would learn that after 18 years with the love of his life, Roger and his companion are ready to take the plunge---no, not marriage yet......but they are committing to a  fish tank community.  In fact, they are  carefully researching for weeks now, the mix of the community of fish and the empty tank sits there in his living room, awaiting Roger's careful analysis.  You see,  Roger likes to get it right and minimize risks.  He is the ideal pilot.

I on the other hand,  recounted to him the spontaneous nature of my fish tank analysis--  going to the tropical fish store and buying fish that looked so brilliant and beautiful ....and the horror of having a family picnic and hearing the blood curdling screams of my nieces and nephews as the pretty fish devoured the existing community in front of their young eyes.

The fun of this "fish tale" was the mutual understanding of our distinctly different personality styles and the recognition that each personality has both strengths and  weaknesses --an understanding that in the "Perfect Tank" there is acceptance, diversity, and agreement that you don't bite the other's head off (at least in front of company).

Back in Costa Rica this week---------Pura Vida

Comments

[Travel Guy]

I just came across this. Excellent post...plus it's always nice to come across someone retelling an airline travel experience that isn't full of negativity and complaining about the horrors of airline travel. :- )