Hi Friend
I’ve been in Chicago this week. It has been everything I hoped and soooooo much more! After landing, I had the worst Lyft driver experience I’ve ever encountered. However, more and more I’m embracing opportunities to exert patience. I realized I go from chatty to immediately silent when I’m frustrated. It was quite evident on this extra long long ride. 😬
I went to the White Sox/Yankees game that went 10 innings and was gripping. I took the architectural cruise and learned Chicago’s amazing history. I ran along Lake Michigan at sunrise, which was stunning. I watched fire works on the Navy Pier. I kayaked the Chicago river for a couple of hours. I’ve walked and walked and walked and walked, as well.
The one thing that stands out to me above everything is: YOU MUST LOVE DOGS! It’s not an exaggeration to say I’ve seen more dogs at one time here, then anywhere else on the planet. It feels like there are more of them, then there are humans. I’m not joking when I tell you I’ve seen more than one human having 2 or 3 dogs on a leash. It’s slightly bizarre.
Of course, it’s also a big metropolitan area, with limited parks. There is a little park outside of this apartment on Pearson street, but I’m talking on Michigan Avenue, inside target, along the lake, DOGS ARE EVERYWHERE.
My speculation is that all of these city dwellers 1) Feel alone in the big city and want companionship, 2) Connects them to their childhood neighborhood home so it feels less urban, 3) There is an invisible gas permeating the air, causing all people who live here to desire a dog. It’s such a juxtaposition to see so many City Dogs.
Contrast isn’t Necessarily Conflict
I called this trip a #Workcation because I had a handful of business meetings scheduled as well as going on all the adventures I made up and seeing a friend from high school. I know it’s strongly recommended “When you go on vacation, disconnect from everything so you can recharge.” I didn’t exactly do that. Actually all of my business engagements were as rejuvenating, if not more, than the fun stuff.
Work and play contrast. Do they have to be in conflict?
With Work-From-Home persisting as well as the desire to be around people as well as the commitment to be safe as well as leadership wanting to have teams back together – the contrasting hopes, beliefs and expectations have the potential to devolve into significant conflict – and certainly have in many places.
Contrast values the differences between the two, four or nine sides.
Conflict values a singular position.
Contrast reveals an end-result that incorporates all sides.
Conflict reveals an end-result that diminishes all sides, without a beneficial conclusion.
The crowd at the White Sox/Yankees game was surprisingly evenly split. I would say 60% Sox and 40% Yankees. Two chants would happen back-to-back. “Let’s go Yankess, Let’s go” immediately followed by “Yankeeeeees Suck, Yankeeeeees Suck”. As an agnostic, I rooted for and was entertained entirely by both sides.
When a foul ball was hit, if an audience member caught it and held it up, everyone cheered. It didn’t matter who that person was rooting for. Most of the night, we would have imagined they were in conflict by their interactions. However, being able to celebrate anyone at anytime, revealed a truer scenario.
Instigating Ideas
1. Don’t move to Chicago unless you want a dog!
2. Can you readjust a current conflict to a contrast?
3. Go to a pro baseball game.
4. Take a vacation!
If the City Dogs could speak, I imagine most of them would say they’d rather be in a suburb. You can speak. With those words you can convert every conflict into a contrast. Who is someone with whom you currently have conflict? Do you care enough about them to find a way to alter it?
I’ve had such a great time in Chicago, I extended my stay through Sunday. Needless to say this has taken a lot longer to write, as I am sitting in Stan’s Donut Shop. Finding ways to “do both” – work and play – seems to be an ongoing quest of mine.