I caught Conan O’Brien’s last Tonight Show this past Friday. Near the end of the show, Conan made a brief speech addressed especially toward the young people watching. This haiku is a mash-up of the main points in his address, with which I agree wholeheartedly.

Video of the farewell speech follows the print version of this haiku below.

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my plea through the tears
of the girl at the counter:
it can’t be all bad.

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This is one of those haiku written because I spend a lot of time watching. Occasionally, I intrude on the things I see, but mostly I just observe.

It’s been a lifelong habit, a curiosity about what people do and the way they think. I’m probably still at it because of the precious little progress I’ve made so far. It’s probably the same reason I read blogs and talk to people whose experiences and opinions are least like mine.

It’s probably also part of the reason you (whoever you are) read the haiku and other words scattered over this site. Or is it?

resist the contempt
bred by familiarity;
just appreciate.

image: Denise Gould

celebrate those who,
having seen you at your worst,
love you anyway.

get out of your rut;
one little difference will
start the renewal.