Oh, the humanity!
Reflections on work travel
I have missed work travel! How surprised I am to find the joy in work travel again. Airports still rank among my least favorite spaces, but being in another locale is rejuvenating and inspiring. The annual QRCA conference was in Charlotte, NC this week, and that fair city gifted this Mainer with a sneak peek at spring. Trees were in bloom, tulips bobbed their heads in the wind, even the humidity was a welcome change for me.
One of the very specific joys of being elsewhere is taking an early morning walk and watching a new city wake up. This experience is deeply connected to my love of qualitative research; I find myself watching the people even more than the lovely gardens and beautiful architecture of old buildings: the woman with her heavy bag trudging toward her job in the government building, the young man with dreadlocks and a sharp suit making his way to the office, the gardener clearing debris from hedges. This morning, my walk was right at the time kids were headed to school. I watched as two teenage sisters burst from their small house, jackets trailing, to catch the school bus stopped at the corner. Two backpacked kids rode a scooter together up a long hill. And a young boy, fortunate to be driven to school, looked at me out of the passenger window and slyly flashed me a peace sign, which I returned. I can hear my British mother’s voice, now: “Oh, the humanity!” Indeed.
Deep, unfettered, exploratory conversations are my jam. Please reach out if you have a population you need to understand better.
And, before I go, here are some suggestions for the bedside table (with thanks to my colleague Angie Meltsner):
The Art of Gathering: How we meet and why it matters, by Priya Parker
The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin
Loved this Vivian! ✌🏻