People love to tell their story-if only we would listen.
Huell Howser, who passed away recently, hosted a public television
program called "California Gold, " he had a wonderful skill of
getting people to tell their story.
He would travel around California and discover some of the states
unique places and people, like Emu farmers and artisans who made things out of recycled
goods.
Howser was a master conversationalist who cultivated the conversational
skill of 'curiosity.' This genuine 'curiosity' was displayed in all his
interactions.
Curiosity is taking an active interest in another person in a non
possessive way. Being genuinely curious, Huell would ask a question and then
get out of the way.
In an L.A. Times expose
after his death, his assistant Ryan Smith said this about his boss, Huell
"always wanted to be seen as a storyteller, and never wanted the story to
be about him.
The above statement reminds me of a G.K. Chesterton quote: "how
much larger your life would be if your 'self' were smaller in it."
I will know that curiosity and empathy has produced fruit, if after
a conversation, the other person walks away knowing more about themselves
rather than me.
