Just read this wonderful piece in What On Earth Have I Done? by Robert Fulghum – one of my all-time favorite authors…

I have a list in the active pocket of my mind. A list I often refer to when thrown into the company of strangers while traveling. The list is labeled Conversation Lifeboats:

1. Did you ever have a great teacher – in school or out? Tell me.
2. What would you be learning – if you had time?
3. What would you have learned to do if you knew then what you know now?
4. What would you teach, if you were asked?
5. Teach me something. Anything.
6. Do you know any silly tricks? Coins, cards, face contortions?
7. If you could be an eyewitness to some event in history, which one?
8. If you could see anyplace in the world before human history, where would you go and why?
9. Who would you like to see naked?
10. Who do you admire? Who admires you?
11. Answer an unasked question – something you know but nobody would ever ask about and you would never volunteer.
12. Decisions of consequence – what forks in the road were on your way – and what if you had taken the other path?
13. Pick another place/time in modern history – since 1700 – to live.
14. Book, movie, you’ve read/seen more than once. Why?
15. What ability/talent do you not have but would like to have?
16. Ever thought about changing your appearance or identity? And?
17. If you were a spy, what would be your cover?
18. What was the worst/best summer job you ever had?
19. If you could know how your life will end but you still could not change it, would you want to know? Why or why not?
20. If you could live one short episode of your life over again – a day, week, month – which would it be by? And why?
21. Do you remember your first love? Tell me.
22. Have you ever experienced the kindness of a stranger? How?
23. Do you ever have any bizarre thoughts?

Everybody has a story to tell and a willingness to tell it if asked. Everybody knows things you don’t know, but wish you did. Everybody is a door into some other room in the world. Anybody is capable of inspiring you. Every situation contains opportunity.

[I am going to try and answer these first, before asking anyone else.]