Common Ground
/How do you nurture relationships with loved ones whose values contradict your own?
“I didn’t plan to talk about politics, because I knew we didn’t agree on much. On national holidays, he hangs a ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ flag from his front porch, whereas I’m always going on about social justice and the environment.”
— Stephanie Maltarich
The past year has dredged up a lot of tensions between loved ones. From racial justice, to proper pandemic behavior, to a highly politicized presidential election, many of us have been forced into difficult conversations with family and close friends.
How do we nurture our relationships with loved ones, when the values that are central to our being are challenged?
On this episode, Stephanie Maltarich tells the story of a trip she took with her father in rural Ohio. The week they spent together outdoors highlighted the deep divides that existed in their politics and values, but their conversations around the campfire also laid some groundwork for reconciling with those divides.
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If you enjoy this episode, you might also like an episode called “The Truths We Hold.” It’s a story about our beliefs — about things we’re brought up to know to be true. And about what causes us to question them.
Better Outside?
We have had to adapt to a lot since the start of the pandemic.
Restaurants have started serving customers in makeshift structures on the sidewalk, exercise studios host classes in the park, religious leaders address their communities in parking lots, and pop-up tents are the new clinics.
Many of these adaptations have been adequate. But at the end of the day, they’re temporary solutions. Once the pandemic is over, we’ll be glad to go back to our old ways.
What we’d like to know from you is: what has gotten better since it’s been moved outdoors?
Life has been really tough this past year. But do you have any examples of something that’s improved, now that it happens outside? Did you come up with a new idea for your business — something that’s so good you’ll keep it going, once the world gets back to normal? Do you have new daily rituals you want to continue? Changes in lifestyle? Newfound relationships?
We want to hear all of it!
Click “Start Recording” below to tell us what’s gotten better for you, since being moved outdoors. We can't wait to hear your responses — and we might use some of them on the show.
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