More Interesting Than You.....?

My life is more interesting than yours. At least that's what I think. You may think your life is more interesting. Sure. Whatever. Knock yourself out.

The thing is this, I don't think it is more interesting because I make it that way. I think it is more so because I see it that way. You can either see things in black and white or you can see them in 3 color high-gloss print. With matted lines, and sparkly finishes.
But some days, interesting or not, is not my choice. It just happens.


Dad and I just went and got oatmeal at Starbucks (if you have not tried it, it is delicious). When we left, i went to CVS, he went to the office.

On my way back through the lobby of the CBOT I see 4 Amish people. Every time I see them, I wish I was Amish... a little bit. I see them. All the way up stairs I am thinking about them. I walk in the office and blurt (I do this often) THERE ARE ALL THESE AMISH PEOPLE IN THE LOBBY OF THE BOARD OF TRADE!

I go back in my office, make some tea, come back out... and here comes my dad back into the office-- and who is he bringing with him... up the elevator... through security... with visitors passes? The 4 Amish people. He saw them looking at the pictures and thought they might want to see the floor.

This is something I love about my dad-- and a side often not viewed by others. When we'd go fishing as a kid-- he'd take the attendant at the gas station where he bought coffee a bag of fresh fish-- she loved it. Or after my sister's wedding-- before we got rid of the flowers-- he took the flowers to some random people. They are funny little nice things that I don't understand. He taught me to pray for the people that we saw stealing outside of Farm and Fleet-- to pray that they would have enough and not have to steal. These things. Funny odd things that are sewn with an unsolicited compassion.

I digress. Here he is-- with the 4 Amish people. He says, "Ashley, come here, I want you to do something-- ... this is my daughter...Take them to the 4th floor and show them the floor of the board of trade-- show them around and answer their questions." So I did.

It all happened so fast.

As it turns out, they farm eggs- organic, free-range chickens... producing healthy eggs. he told me I could buy some hens form him. I got their names and addresses. They had bad teeth but good smiles.


They had plain clothes but an aura of excitement because they got to see inside the CBOT and go to the floor. It was something I got to see that made my day.

But here's the best part. It was the odd offering to show that made that possible. It wasn't a mere passive interest-- but an active search of interesting. If my dad had walked upstairs to write the mid-day- I would not have had an interesting day. In turn, I think you find interesting, not just see it.. you find it- but you can't just find it, you have to grab it and hold on to it, walk with it and live with it. You cultivate a wave of interest the builds thoughts ideas and freedom.

ok, so maybe I am getting carried away. But, I think, just like talking to the stranger at the concert a few weeks back was liberating. So was saying "nice to meet you" to an unmade-up face with hair tucked up behind a piece of cloth... and a man named Lamar with a chipped tooth.


Sew the seeds of interesting, cultivate living outside your bubble, harvest a well rounded day.