The journey of life sure is an interesting one. 

Lately, I’ve been pondering and reminiscing, thinking about how crazy it is to be in the place I’m in right now. Many times throughout my life, if someone was to ask if I had thought a few years previous that I would be where I was, I would have said no. 

And throughout all the travels, all the different jobs, the different people I have met, it’s amazing to see the different journeys people are on. 

Whether it’s a farmer who just wants to have a good year on the field to provide for his kids to go to school or a young girl who just graduated high school and is trying to learn what it means to pay her own rent and hold a job, we all are in different places in our lives. 

Where we tend to connect is through paths that cross. It could be similar interests, same field, or an ability to understand at least a fraction of what another person is going through. 

Our experiences give us the tools we need to empathize and connect with those around us. 

I’ve met many people who live such  different lives than I do. People who believe things that I don’t believe, stand for things that I don’t stand for, and are passionate about things that I’m not passionate about. 

And yet, the diversity of the people I interact with has been something I’m so grateful for. 

It’s the friends who I tend to have less in common with that seem to challenge me the most. They challenge what I believe, how I think, how I organize my day, and what I prioritize. 

So surround yourself with people who aren’t like you. And learn to have conversations with them. You might be surprised what you learn about yourself.