Hello stranger. You don’t know me, and you probably never will. Tragically, if we were to ever cross paths, we probably wouldn’t even know it; we’ll both probably be listening to music through headphones, texting someone else or awkwardly staring at the ground. The art of shaking hands and small talk is dying, because everyone has picked up the habit of gate keeping their personality. But who knows? Your next best friend might be hiding behind the face of a stranger.
No doubt it’s intimidating wandering into uncharted territory. Compared to the people you already know, a stranger holds so many unknowns; What if I’m bothering them? What if they talk too much? What if they’re rude? What if they think I’m weird? These are the kinds of questions that run through our minds and make us want to hide in our little anxiety-caves and never come out.
Despite the abundance of reasons to feel anxious about talking to strangers, it truly is a good habit to practice. Uncomfortable conversations are worth having. The lingering pain of an awkward silence, laughable blunders and missteps are all just growing pains. Eventually it becomes easier and way more fun. Small talk is the easiest way to get to know someone, so don’t knock it ‘till you try it.
Humans are social beings. A recent study suggests that the more diverse your social portfolio is, the happier you are. This inherent desire to interact with one another is an expression of our humanity, something the world people could use a bit more of. Now, as a result of the internet, real life interactions —especially with a random person— aren’t as valuable, cherished or even sought out.
Living so much of our lives online has only exasperated this social dilemma. Talking to strangers online has become the new norm. Now, if someone is caught doing something questionable in public a person’s first instinct is to take a picture of them and send it to their friends or post it on social media. Talking to and about people primarily online has made us forget that strangers are just as complicated, flawed, fragile and real as we are —not just background characters in our everyday lives. What would happen if we started asking questions again? It’s easy to draw conclusions about someone when you know nothing about them, but if you give a stranger a chance you might learn something worthwhile.
Compliment a stranger. Congratulate the boy walking by in his cap and gown. Say happy birthday to the girl wearing a sash. These small moments can transform someone’s mood in ways you might never know. The beauty of a stranger is the fleeting time you get to know them —whether it’s seconds passing on the street or 15 minutes in line for ice cream. Putting yourself out there and going off the usual script will spice up your life and fulfill you in more ways than one.
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