I was invited to an after-party by my former employers at a non-profit organization where I’d worked in the past.
I didn’t know what to expect from the gathering, other than catching up with former coworkers, but the conversations I had with old and new friends made me realize how valuable it would be to attend similar gatherings with like-minded people in the future.
At a point where many of my interests are aligning with my goals, it feels even more necessary to make new friends, for they may hold the information and opportunities I’ve been needing.
At that after-party, for example, I had the privilege of conversing with an impressive lady whose career is centered around architecture, culture, marketing, small businesses, and history. In fact, she shared with me that she joined an established museum in Springdale, Arkansas, earlier this year and that she’s learned far more than she imagined.
We talked for what felt like hours, and I learned a great deal about something that piqued my curiosity about the area’s history.
We also discussed the hardships of farmers in Arkansas, noting her upbringing as the daughter of a farmer and how larger companies that develop farm machinery have made it difficult for farmers to repair their tools due to proprietary measures. The right to repair, it seems, is slowly fading from the public’s mind without their knowing, and it is still not being discussed as much as it should.
In any case, this experience alone has made me reconsider how often I should join gatherings. I would benefit more in the long run by attending them than not— there are plenty of interesting things going on in Northwest Arkansas.
Let this particular moment be a lesson on the value of sharing words and exchanging ideas. Perhaps the more I do that, the more doors could be opened.