Second Cup: Burst your bubble

Seek out people with different lives and experiences

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning,
This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's
tip is to be intentional about encountering and building relationships

(00:24):
with people whose experiences are different from yours. In life,
it can be easy to live in a bubble, but
consciously bursting that bubble can make life more interesting. One
of the more fascinating demographic trends these days is just

(00:44):
how much people sort themselves into very similar communities. There
are the political implications, of course, says the US has
different states becoming known as red states or blue states.
Plenty of folks don't know many people who vote differently
than they do, even though obviously millions of people make

(01:05):
those choices. But beyond that, people sort on other factors
as well. For instance, if you have a professional degree,
which I know many of my listeners do, you might
not have many close friends who didn't go to college.
Your children most likely know children from other similar backgrounds,

(01:27):
and I know there are reasons for such sorting. But
even if your job and neighborhood are what they are,
it is possible to make some excursions outside the bubble.
Doing so reminds us that people have lots of different experiences.
So alongside your professional organization, which naturally has people with

(01:52):
the exact same job, as you join a civic organization
that recruits more broadly, if nothing else. As you meet
and volunteer together, you will meet people in different lines
of work and who might be at different life stages
from you. Many houses of worship draw their members from

(02:15):
all walks of life, which is great. Join the choir
or the church softball team and get to know people
you wouldn't otherwise. That said, if your house of worship
is a bit more homogenious, maybe it is time to
partner with a like minded church in a different neighborhood

(02:36):
to do some projects together, or field that joint softball team.
If you visit community institutions, you don't necessarily have to
visit the ones in your exact community. Many towns libraries
have multiple branches, and if you can return your books anywhere,

(02:58):
why not check out the story time and met class
options at a different branch. One of the reasons I
love my YMCA is that the clientele is more diverse
than the clientele I have encountered at other gyms. This
is true for the group fitness classes there as well,
so those could be worth checking out. Cast a slightly

(03:19):
broader net with the restaurants you visit for lunch. It
doesn't have to just be that upscale sandwich spot in
your office building. Even a coffee shop represents a choice,
and going somewhere a little different occasionally can remind you
that the world is a varied place, plus that diner's

(03:41):
coffee might be slightly cheaper. I'm just suggesting it. Even
our online communities can become bubbles, but they don't have
to be. I am not saying you need to expose
yourself to strident voices, but ask around to find who
your friends and colleagues consider to be the most thoughtful

(04:04):
voices with differing opinions. You might try seeking out and
following a few bloggers or influencers or podcasters whose lives
differ in significant ways from yours. These days, our life
bubbles can have walls that are a lot thicker than
actual soap bubbles. And that's not necessarily because we are

(04:27):
actively trying to limit interaction. It's just what tends to
be easiest. If you spend most of your time working
or caring for your kids, then you probably don't see
that many people outside your extended family and neighbors and colleagues. Anyway,
it does take effort, but at least from time to time,

(04:51):
maybe it is worth that effort, if for no other
reason then to remember what the broader world is like
in the meantime. This is Laura. Thanks for listening, and
here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody,

(05:16):
I'd love to hear from you. You can send me
your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with
me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod.
That's b E the number four then Breakfast Pod. You
can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast Podcasts
at iHeartMedia dot com. That before Breakfast is spelled out

(05:39):
with all the letters. Thanks so much. Should I look
forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a production
of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

(06:02):
The Gang Gang MHM