You may have done this exercise in your mind or talked it through with a friend when someone raised it as a speculative question. “If you could have dinner with any four people in the world (either all together or one-on-one with each; and they can be dead or alive), who would it be and why?”
It’s quite an in-depth exercise. There are many variables to consider. Do you want someone with a great sense of humor (yes). If so, how would you know that? You have to base it on perceptions.
Do you want someone controversial? You could ask lots of questions on why they did what they did to become out on the edge.
Would you want to speak to a historical figure? Someone you consider “great?” A leader? An entertainer, scientist or politician?
When I’ve raised these questions with others, the discussion about who to visit with becomes quite agitated. There are no right answers. And, we’d all want to sit and talk with someone different, because we’re different.
One name that comes up constantly is “Jesus.” People want to hear what he has to say, ask him things, when he’s coming back, what he really meant when he spoke indirectly. I totally understand. Great choice, but not on my list.
Watching “Wheel of Fortune” a lot since Covid arrived, I have grown fond of Pat Sajak, and would like to have a meal with him to find out how he’s become so quick-witted. I have friends who will call me a “dip” for listing him. But, he makes me laugh and smile, and his ability to ad lib is astronomical. I’d like to see what he’s like face-to-face. Think of the stories Sajak could tell you.
“Pink,” the singer, would another choice. Her background and how she raised herself up to be a star, fighting through many difficulties perks my attention. She’s thoughtful, her lyrics strongly empower women and speak to their experiences growing up, sharing what she learned to help others through the day. It would be great to dig into her background, have her tell stories on what’s behind those lyrics in her real life.
Denzel Washington is a third choice. Here’s a guy who’s been a thoughtful star in Hollywood, for what now, for over 35 years? That stat alone is amazing. If you look into his roles, who he’s chosen to take on as characters, there is a gut to each of them as an underdog or an important historical figure or the little guy taking on the system. Finding out what drives him, how he’s sustained himself against obstacles would fuel my steak dinner with him.
Finally, and this is hard because you have to eliminate the other 37 people you think you’d enjoy a deep conversation and a few beers with, would be LeBron James. He may not be the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), but he’s dang close and will always be in that conversation. He’s taken three teams onto win an NBA championship, doing whatever it takes. To me, his all-round basketball game (rebounding, passing, defending, scoring, leading) are the best-ever. And, his career has spanned a period of many social causes where he has stood up for his beliefs, being active, lifting up others. He’s a great example to others, and as we enjoyed a few IPA’s together (or whatever his beverage is), I’d want to find out what fuels him. How he chose to give back, when and why he chose to stand up, what he really wanted to do with each team in the NBA when he moved on. He took the criticism each time, and stepped up.
There are many more possibilities. Those are four from me. What’re yours?
It’s quite an in-depth exercise. There are many variables to consider. Do you want someone with a great sense of humor (yes). If so, how would you know that? You have to base it on perceptions.
Do you want someone controversial? You could ask lots of questions on why they did what they did to become out on the edge.
Would you want to speak to a historical figure? Someone you consider “great?” A leader? An entertainer, scientist or politician?
When I’ve raised these questions with others, the discussion about who to visit with becomes quite agitated. There are no right answers. And, we’d all want to sit and talk with someone different, because we’re different.
One name that comes up constantly is “Jesus.” People want to hear what he has to say, ask him things, when he’s coming back, what he really meant when he spoke indirectly. I totally understand. Great choice, but not on my list.
Watching “Wheel of Fortune” a lot since Covid arrived, I have grown fond of Pat Sajak, and would like to have a meal with him to find out how he’s become so quick-witted. I have friends who will call me a “dip” for listing him. But, he makes me laugh and smile, and his ability to ad lib is astronomical. I’d like to see what he’s like face-to-face. Think of the stories Sajak could tell you.
“Pink,” the singer, would another choice. Her background and how she raised herself up to be a star, fighting through many difficulties perks my attention. She’s thoughtful, her lyrics strongly empower women and speak to their experiences growing up, sharing what she learned to help others through the day. It would be great to dig into her background, have her tell stories on what’s behind those lyrics in her real life.
Denzel Washington is a third choice. Here’s a guy who’s been a thoughtful star in Hollywood, for what now, for over 35 years? That stat alone is amazing. If you look into his roles, who he’s chosen to take on as characters, there is a gut to each of them as an underdog or an important historical figure or the little guy taking on the system. Finding out what drives him, how he’s sustained himself against obstacles would fuel my steak dinner with him.
Finally, and this is hard because you have to eliminate the other 37 people you think you’d enjoy a deep conversation and a few beers with, would be LeBron James. He may not be the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), but he’s dang close and will always be in that conversation. He’s taken three teams onto win an NBA championship, doing whatever it takes. To me, his all-round basketball game (rebounding, passing, defending, scoring, leading) are the best-ever. And, his career has spanned a period of many social causes where he has stood up for his beliefs, being active, lifting up others. He’s a great example to others, and as we enjoyed a few IPA’s together (or whatever his beverage is), I’d want to find out what fuels him. How he chose to give back, when and why he chose to stand up, what he really wanted to do with each team in the NBA when he moved on. He took the criticism each time, and stepped up.
There are many more possibilities. Those are four from me. What’re yours?
