There are two treadmills at Victory. The first day I ran there I got on the one to the right and never thought of getting on the other. In fact, if someone was on my preferred treadmill I would wait to get my run in. Some circumstance forced me to hop on the other one and in the first minute of jogging I felt like a royal imbecile—the treadmill on the left was WAY smoother and an all around better machine. I ran on the wrong treadmill for like three weeks! Seriously. I thought about that today, and how it can become habitual to lean into a preferred method of doing things just because.
It shows up all over life—finding your squat rack, sitting in your seat in class or church, your preferred way home, route to work, coffee order, places to eat, and on and on.
How many people do we miss out on knowing because of preference? What level of intimacy are we not reaching with friends and partners because of preference?
A few years ago I listened to this two-part podcast episode from Invisibilia called Bubble Hopping (Reality Part 1 & 2). One of the episodes was about this guy that created a code to work around the facebook algorithm that kept suggesting similar things. He forced the suggestions feature to show him events and places outside of his normal preferences and social bubble; it feature unrelated meetups. The story story was pretty intriguing.
I really liked that idea.
Don’t get me wrong—I am a big fan of routine and structure. I think it’s how we’re able to become great at a thing(s) and really draw the most out of an intentional focus. But there are other options, other people and other ways. And, even if your routine draws out your best, if you want to be a person that grows, a great friend, communicator, or leader you have to bubble hop at least mentally and emotionally. The best in you isn’t the same as leaning into the preferences and needs of the others to draw out the best in them.
While I’ll stick to trusted preferences for work routines, I think it’s good, and healthy, to have built in reminders to these other ways. Bubble hopping offers a different perspective, and our worlds are really limitless as we connect and join and reconnect.
Back to basic physical bubble hopping: it’s really fun. I do it in little ways. When I move to new areas I like to explore on foot, mostly by running through neighborhoods and appreciating unique architecture and nature. I like to drive around and get lost finding little parks, paths and beaches. I’ll sit without headphones in to be open for conversation and have little back and forths with strangers. I’ll take different routes home. It pulls me out of my comfort zone, and it’s a fun place to live and learn.
So, I guess my suggestion is check out the other treadmill. Happy bubble hopping!
//GLK
Bubble-hopping: “A method to bridge divides between people in a fractioned society.”
