Back in 2015, I was flying from Arizona to Texas and ended up sitting next to a gentleman who had to be in his mid-70s. He was sharp, an engineering background then transitioned to medical field. We struck up a conversation that lasted the entire flight. We covered everything from politics and philosophy to medicine, finance, and economics. It was rare: open, intelligent, and accepting.
At one point, I started a sentence with, “I feel like this is how…”
He stopped me gently and said:
“Listen, son. There are things you feel, there are things you think, and then there are things you know. When you begin to realize the difference between the three, your life becomes much simpler. So, would you like to start over?”
I still reflect on that moment.
But what truly humbled me was what he said just before we parted at the end of the flight:
“When I was your age, I shook the hand of a 90-year-old Civil War veteran. Now I’m about to shake yours. Just know, time is irrelevant when it comes to making a connection... Good luck.”
Moments like that remind me why I stay open to learning, to connection, to wisdom that transcends generations.
First published on LinkedIn.