Finding Common Ground: The Universal Language of Music, Art & Food
Last week, I found myself sitting at a local café when the most amazing thing happened. An elderly gentleman was humming along to the café's background music – "What a Wonderful World" – when a young student joined in. Soon, half the café was either humming or swaying along. Nobody spoke about their backgrounds or beliefs; we just shared that pure moment of joy through music. It got me thinking about how these simple human connections happen every day, if we just notice them.
One Moment we notice more then we don’t with human connection…. is when we share a meal.
You know that moment when you bring out your lunch at work and someone says, "Oh, that smells amazing!"
Image Credit: @youssefnaddam
Suddenly, you're sharing stories about your grandmother's secret recipe or that tiny restaurant you discovered on vacation. Food has this incredible way of melting away our differences.
Just yesterday, my neighbor – who I'd barely spoken to before – dropped off a plate of homemade baklava.
"It's my mother's recipe," she said shyly. "We always make extra during celebrations."
That simple gesture led to us chatting for an hour about our families' food traditions. Now we're planning a neighborhood potluck!
And Food is not the only connector... Music can change everything from the first note.
Remember the last time a song gave you goosebumps? Or when you caught yourself dancing in your kitchen while cooking? Music catches us in these delightfully human moments.
I'll never forget being lost in a foreign city, completely unable to communicate with anyone. But when I stumbled into a small jazz bar, it didn't matter that I couldn't speak the language. The universal head-nod of appreciation for a great saxophone solo bridged every gap. The owner and I spent the evening sharing our favorite musicians by simply playing songs for each other.
Think that’s the only way people connect? Think again!
Last month, I took my daughter to a local art gallery. As we stood in front of a particularly colorful abstract painting, she tugged my sleeve and whispered, " I see a dragon!"
An elderly man nearby chuckled and said he saw a garden of flowers.
Soon, a small crowd had gathered, each person seeing something different in the swirls of color.
Nobody was wrong – we were all just sharing our unique perspectives through art.
These connections don't have to be grand gestures. They can be as simple as:
Bringing cookies to a new neighbor (even if they're store-bought – we've all been there!)
Sharing your "Life Soundtrack" playlist with coworkers
Stopping to admire a child's sidewalk chalk art
Learning to make your friend's favorite childhood dish
Here's a little challenge for this week:
Strike up a conversation with someone different from you about food, music, or art. Maybe it's asking about the dish they're eating at lunch, or commenting on the music playing in their car. You might be surprised where the conversation leads.
I tried this recently at my local grocery store. I noticed the cashier humming a tune I recognized, and instead of the usual small talk about weather, I mentioned it. Turns out she's in a local choir, and now I know about free concerts I never knew existed in my own neighborhood!
Sometimes the best connections happen when we're not trying too hard.
When we're just sharing a meal, enjoying music, or appreciating art together, we naturally find our common ground.
So maybe next time you're feeling disconnected from the world around you, put on your favorite song, cook a meaningful meal, or visit a local art show.
Better yet, invite someone to join you.
You don't need to solve the world's problems – sometimes just sharing these simple human experiences is enough to remind us that we're all in this together.
What's your favorite way to connect with others through food, music, or art? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments below.
P.S. If you're curious, that café where everyone was humming "What a Wonderful World"?
They now have a weekly music hour where people just come together to share songs. Sometimes the smallest moments lead to the biggest changes in our communities.
