GRIFTER’S TALES
THE GRIFTER’S CODE
By Colin Lee MacLeod
Different worlds. Common ground. The same respect at every table.
Meet the person in front of you
A grifter, as I use the word, can sit with anyone. High or low, familiar or unfamiliar, the job is to meet the person rather than perform for the label. My life has crossed different kinds of work and different places, from Japan to working boats in British Columbia.
That variety gives me reasons to be curious. It does not make me an expert on everyone else’s life. Listening still has to come first.
Adapt without losing yourself
A hostel kitchen, a workboat, and a café have different rhythms. Being comfortable in more than one setting means paying attention: how people speak, what needs doing, and when to stop talking.
The point is connection, not collecting impressive acquaintances. Respect should not rise or fall with someone’s job title. If we can share a meal or a conversation without that scoreboard running, we have a better chance of learning something from each other.
Grifter’s Takeaway
Bring the same respect to every table. Listen before deciding who someone is.
