Surface Tension: The Challenge of Finding Depth in Daily Interactions

I don't do well with small talk.

Put a big idea, provocative question, or challenging concept on the table and I'm all the way in. But small talk ... small talk feels awkward and disingenuous. I spend a lot of time in my own space, in my own mind, headphones in, eyes in the sky, or with my nose in a book - even in public spaces, if not with my little family, I'm often by myself.

Ironically, I've found that I have the most enriching conversations with complete strangers, but when it comes to my own home-base network of loved ones, coworkers, acquaintances - it can feel so strange because of the latency between our interactions or even the monotonous robotics of seeing each other everyday.