Have you seen the series of insurance commercials that make it seem they don’t believe young homeowners should emulate their parents? When Cindy and I purchased our first home, we did it the way Mom and Dad had. We signed a contract for deed because we did not have a down payment.

The commercials I am speaking of criticize these young adults for getting involved. My wife and I encouraged our children to get involved in school, church, and with their friends. I do not get why having our children do things the way we do them is bad.

Maybe you did not think your parents were cool when you were growing up. Let me tell you about our girls. I was a teacher at church most of their lives. Now I am the proud father of three women who are teachers. One has been an elementary school teacher for over ten years. Her oldest sister began teaching high school a few years ago. The youngest is a stay-at-home mom who homeschools her kids.

There is the man who wants to help the server at a coffee joint find who a drink is for. I would not do this, but I would watch the entrance and the hall leading to the restrooms. When someone isn’t there to pick up their order, that is usually where they are. If I am alone, I go to the facility before ordering.

When I walk into a room, I look for someone who is not involved in conversations or other activities. Especially if I am also a stranger. It is difficult for many to strike up discussions with those they do not know. My years in sales, making cold calls, taught me to speak to anyone about everything.

I have thousands of stories about people I have met and the stories they have told me and how I began talking to them. I have shared many of these in these columns. One that I want to repeat here is about my oldest daughter when she and her husband had a company with a friend.

Cindy and I were talking to her about a trip they were all three taking to a convention. I knew the guys went to those to meet prospective customers, and I asked why she was going. They had a female buyer that had been difficult to reach, and they asked her to start a conversation weeks before this gathering. They were planning on closing the deal while there, and she had been asked by the lady if she was going. That is why she was.

She told me that it was my influence that made her learn to make contacts easily. When my girls were growing up, I always responded to their comments about other kids that seemed to have difficulties getting to know others. Our conversations with our girls encouraged them to make new friends by drawing them into the groups they are in.

I wish to encourage you to become involved with people. You may not be the one in your groups that can draw new folks in. If you aren’t, do not be the one that discourages friends from including those that need to belong somewhere.

Cliff Claven made it to visit the bar, Cheers, almost every day, where everybody knew his name. I walked into a PA’s office one day and met the new man. His office was covered in St. Louis Blues memorabilia. I left making a new client and knowing more about hockey than ever before. Try it, you’ll like it.

©Copyright 2026 by Charles Kensinger