Beetles and Ballroom Dancing

Imagine two adults waiting at a print shop. One holds a poster of a beetle the size of a dinner plate. The other holds a poster for ballroom dancing. They laugh at the contrast. Then each asks what the other enjoys about that hobby. Suddenly, waiting isn't wasted time.

The Scout Law point Friendly asks us to be a friend to all, including people who are different. That's more than being pleasant to our usual crowd. It's being curious without making someone feel strange. You don't have to love beetles or learn to dance. You can care about what matters to another person. Friendship doesn't require matching interests. It needs a little room for someone else's enthusiasm.

This week, talk with someone whose interests are different from yours. Ask what they enjoy about one of those interests. Listen without comparing it to your own. Then ask one more question.