Would Like To Meet...

Yesterday, sitting at my desk in Glasgow, I was suddenly consumed by a horrible feeling of guilt and hypocrisy. It happened just as our presenter Graham Stewart walked past while giving two journalism students a tour of our Pacific Quay H.Q. I recognised both of them - Amy MacBeath and Amy Ferguson - because they'd been in the audience when I'd given a talk at Glasgow Caledonian University last month.

I recalled telling them about being curious about everything and everybody and how it was important to get out of your comfort zone as often as possible and meet new people. I'd also been banging on about this last week in Wales when I was talking to students at the Celtic Media Festival.

But then, seeing the two Amys yesterday, I wondered if I actually practised what I preached.
How many new people do I actually meet in an average week? Have I taken a long-term lease inside my own comfort zone? Are there cushions in there now?

Well, I've decided to do something about it and make it my ambition to meet at least one new person every week and to strike up conversations with strangers even at the risk of personal embarassment and possible arrest. At least one a week between now and this time next year. Fifty-two new people.

I'm off to a good start. Last night on the train to Inverness there was a woman sitting opposite me who was very particular about the slice of fruitcake she was buying from the catering trolley. She returned one piece because it had too many raisins and not enough cherries. This led to some laughter and then a lively conversation in which I discovered that both she and her husband had been made redundant from their jobs in a bank but had now found new jobs which they both enjoyed.

I wont go into too much detail, because, although we exchanged business cards, I don't have her permission to name her or write about everything she said, but her story gave me a real insight into the things that people go through when they are faced with redundancy. Something so many of our listeners are going through at this very moment.

So, one meeting down and fifty-one to go. I'll keep you posted.

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