Questions about "Waiting"

[Please be aware that the venue may change.]
"Small talk limits us from having deep, meaningful relationships, not just with others, also with ourselves" -Jay Shetty

We've all waited countless times in our lives, either for something to happen or for something to pass. Isn't this "activity", if you may even call it such, easily overlooked?

What about those unremarkable in-between-moments in a queue, a traffic jam, at offices, at the bus stop or in front of a "Pfandrückgabeautomat"? Is this all just lost time? Or are you laid-back, enjoying that currently nothing could be expected from you since you're stuck anyway?

And then what about those important waiting periods when you're anxious to get the results from your exam, the answer of from the job interview, when the possible outcome of a court case unsettles you or the reply from your crush is taking forever?

What are your strategies when dealing with waiting? How does the culture you're from handle it and how's it seen there?

Were you ever waiting in vain?

Do you make people wait on a regular basis? How long do you wait for people who do?

And is there a connection between expectations and waiting? After all, it could be from an etymological point of view, since "expectare" in Latin means "to wait" and there's certainly some overlap in German between "warten" and "erwarten".

Do animals wait? And if so, is there a difference between wild and domestic animals? Or is waiting specific to the human condition? Are we a "waiting animal" always waiting for the bright or dark future to be just around the corner?

We don't want to give short, factual answers, but also explain the "why" behind our answers. Participants are also encouraged to add their own questions freely. The questions should serve as a starting point for a respectful, honest and meaningful discussion. We encourage everyone to bring their unashamed and radical honesty- you never know what new thoughts you may inspire in others by being truly vulnerable and authentic.

We would like to release everyone from the obligation to talk about the weather, what we do for a living, and where we're from. We want to move away from the repetitive conversations that make us stop thinking and stop listening, and instead aim to have more meaningful, vulnerable, authentic conversations about deeper topics. New, and at first strange questions can lead to inspirational new ideas, radical honesty, and a real connection. Come ready to learn more about others, about yourself, and hopefully, reconnect to some meaningful aspects of being human through a new (to us, but really old) understanding of relationship to community.
Vulnerability and honesty requires some ground rules to encourage respect between group members- these are simple but important to follow:

1. Refrain from interrupting until a group member has finished speaking, or having side-conversations during this time
2. Feel free to comment on the thoughts of others after they're finished (it's a discussion, after all, and it should feel organic), but try to refrain from diminishing their viewpoint, or trying to shift their opinions "debate-style"
3. Try to relax and have fun! You will hear some unfamiliar opinions and experiences- that's okay! Allow it to be expansive and thought-provoking, with an understanding that our differences can sometimes feel uncomfortable- that's just human.
4. Also let's remove the awkward from "awkward silences" because sometimes we just need a little bit of time to think before answering an unusual question.

Notes:

• If you can't come please sign off, so we know for how many people we should reserve a table

What to bring:

• Curiosity
• Honesty
• Respect
• Empathy
• An open mind
• An awareness of your boundaries

What not to bring:

• Prejudice
• Judgement