Ask me a question in person and there’s a possibility I might make a fool out of myself. Ask me a question that I can write down the answer to and there’s absolute certainty you’ll unlock pieces of who I am that you never knew existed.

I asked for this book last Christmas and there’s just something about getting asked a variety of different questions that I can answer in more ways than one. Some of my responses are deep and personal. Others are just plain ol’ silly. Of course, some of the prompts read “Write a limerick about a vampire,” to which I respond, “I hate vampires… Sooo, No!” But that’s what’s awesome about it, especially as a writer. It just gives me the perfect balance.

I actually think it reminds me of myself, oddly enough. I’m a person who loves to have deep, soul searching, heart-bearing conversations… but I enjoy the lighthearted, silly banters that could brighten up a room with laughter. If I ever meet people I can have these types of talks with, it’s quite surprising but it’s also so amazing because they GET it. You don’t always find those kinds of people and it’s refreshing whenever they cross your path.

I wonder what it would be like if people took prompts out of this book and started using them to converse with strangers or even the very people they surround themselves with. Now that this year is coming to an end, it makes me realize just how long it’s been since the last time I truly went in depth in a conversation with somebody where we didn’t have any kind of interruptions. I’m not talking about texting back and fourth either, I’m talking face-to-face contact.

In my experience, when there’s that lack of contact, it starts to create a small emptiness that can’t be re-filled with every day dialogue. There has to be more than just a “How are you? Oh, I’m good.” But hey, maybe that’s the emotional, passionate side of me. Not everyone may agree.

All human interactions are opportunities either to learn or to teach.

M. Scott Peck

Talking connects me to people even though I do feel more comfortable expressing my emotions through writing. However, If I trust you, I’ll be more willing to open up. It’s been forever since I’ve done that and it makes me wonder who will cross my path in the future. It makes me want to set a goal of having more conversations like this in the coming year.

Prompt: Name 3 things you would give up on Thanksgiving Day?