Today a client told me she and her husband will be adopting a three year old girl and a two year old boy. Siblings. Their biological mother doesn’t want them. They have been in a home for orphans and abandoned children for a while now. Technically the couple could have children, but they would have to pay for treatments. They don’t feel like doing that, because there are so many children that need parents. Dear people who fight the good fight: you are not alone.

A day of teaching and seeing clients. From 7 am till 7 pm. With breaks, of course. In those breaks I listened to more audiobooks on story-telling. The more I learn about story-telling the more I wonder how I ever managed to sit down and dare write one. Sometimes it’s easier to do something when you don’t actually know how it works. I also managed to watch The Kurt Warner story. Also called American Underdog. Straight up feel good movie.

My wife and son are visiting my in-laws, so surprise, surprise, the house is slowly but surely turning into pandemonium. They are coming back tomorrow, so I will launch Operation Mishmesh (nothing to do with apricrots, I just like the sound of the word) in the morning. Or tonight if Comrade Caffeine kicks in with sufficient force.

I heard several interesting stories today. My work manages to distract me from what is happening in Gaza, but never fully. One client talked about how he had to take business clients to Thailand and how those clients preferred to stay in a resort and didn’t really learn anything about Thai culture. The client is very inquisitive and a sponge for insights and knowledge, so he was a bit peeved that he had to go on trips outside of the resort all on his own. Wonderful human being, I must say. One of my favorite clients. Time flies with him.

I taught two brothers, 15 and 12. They youngest one had his birthday, so I had candy with me and boardgames. These are not the easiest boardgames, so they do have to communicate a lot. I also ask them questions while we’re playing, so without them realizing it they are actually learning a rather difficult language (Dutch). They are very funny and excel at doing all kinds of English accents. No idea where they picked those up. Possibly YouTube. The oldest one cracks me up by shaking his head and going ‘oh, Lordie’ in an American accent, just when it’s bound to be funny. The youngest one seems to know more American presidents than your average American and sometimes starts talking about what is wrong with the new feminism. Again, I think he gets it from YouTube, but it’s clear he understand rather complicated historical and sociological topics.

The above stories should explain why I would still want to do my job if I woke up as a billionaire tomorrow. I might ditch some clients, but I would keep most of them.

Essentially my days are filled with listening to people. When people open up more good than wrong always shines through.