‘Conscious Conversations’ Series Invites Open Minds to Discuss Big Life Topics

When Abrielle (Abi) Mason graduated from Michigan State University in 2020, the world had been turned upside down by COVID 19. Making friends is difficult at the best of times. It’s even more difficult for adults who are no longer in classrooms daily with peers or interacting with co-workers in face-to-face settings.

Seeking interactions, friendships and connections with people her age, Mason decided to start a conversation series here in East Lansing.

Mason currently works remotely for Gravity Works Design and Development in Lansing, and runs her own business, Verumesse. She credits her latest endeavor, Conscious Conversations, being held monthly at the East Lansing Public Library (ELPL), to her friend Brian Helfman. Helfman runs a personal and professional growth community, Third Nature, and started a virtual series in New York in March 2020.

“It was a place to share thoughts, feelings and talk about bigger topics. I thought it was awesome,” Mason said. “I said ‘I’d love to bring this to an in-person thing in Michigan,’ so I started doing these Conscious Conversations in June of 2022.”

Conscious Conversations takes place on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in meeting rooms 3-4 at ELPL. The next event will be held on Feb. 28 and will focus on “Modern Love.”

Conversation series is a way for self-discovery and connection.

Mason hopes the recurring series can help young adults (including college students) from Lansing-area communities continue on their path of self-discovery.

“The goal is to have a space to share ideas, opinions, have open-mindedness and be more open about life in general,” she said.

Each conversation is theme-based, with questions prepared in advance by Abi. Topics include opportunities, seasons of life, self-expression, trying new things, learning from the past, making things happen, belonging, acceptance and more.

“The series is free-flow, and there’s no required reading,” she said. “The only things I ask people to bring is a water bottle, maybe a journal if they want to take notes, and an open mind. The open mind is important so people don’t disregard others’ opinions.”

The sessions typically last about an hour, but Mason said sometimes the conversations and connections don’t stop when the event does. The setting of the event also encourages participants to keep thinking critically on the topics.

“I really love reading, and I thought the library is a nice, quiet space,” she said. “I thought about coffee shops but they just get a little noisy. This space is inviting. Maybe after the conversation, if that sparks your interest in a book, then you’re right there at the library.”

The Feb. 28 conversation will take on the concept of “Modern Love.”

Each conversation starts with a meditation followed by questions and plenty of room to express one’s opinions, experiences and ask one’s own questions. Mason hopes to build community through this exploration of a variety of topics.

“I put a lot of time and thought into coming up with these topics,” she said. “These are all conversations that I’m excited about, and I tried to keep a mix of some psychology, philosophy, communication and sociology.”

The Feb. 28 event will delve into the concept of modern love.

“I’m hoping to explore more of what our parents or grandparents’ experiences were like in the past and relating that to how our relationships work in today’s society with social media and online dating,” Mason said. “I’m hoping to explore the attitudes and how people go about dating and finding relationships in 2023.”

Mason hopes the series can be an inviting, welcoming space to discover differences while celebrating similarities.

“I’m hoping to build community through this, like a resource to meet more people who are interested in the same topics,” she said. “The goal is to build a community with new resources of people to tap into at any time.

“Community, to me, means new friendships and resources. It’s finding really cool people who live in the same community as you, and now, through this conversation, you’ve started a conversation with that person. Now you can reach out to them if you ever need anything or want a new friend. We’re all part of the same community now. I want people to have good takeaways from the conversation. That is important to me, too.”

The East Lansing Public Library is located at 950 Abbot Road in East Lansing. Check out the ELPS web site for more special programming.