Talk to Strangers

"A friend may be waiting behind a stranger's face."  -Maya Angelou

"Stranger Danger!"  Remember that?  The mantra of concerned parents back in elementary and middle school.  There was a time, certainly during my/my friends' childhoods, that strangers were the pinnacle of all the world's evils.  We don't know them, they don't know us.  They're not like us-- therefore, they're dangerous.  This is true when you're a helpless little kid, but it's a total farce thereafter. 

In fact, once you hit a certain age, many strangers simply become people you don't know yet.  When you're an adult, it should be appropriate to associate oneself with other adults.  But, still, our old habits persist-- we just seem to have a primordial fear of the billions of people we don't know. 
  

Sometimes, the only thing preventing you and someone you don't know from being friends is that you don't know them, which is just silly.  If you want proof of this, just look at the word 'stranger'.  We're surrounded by these mysterious, anonymous people every day, yet we still consider them strange (and vice-versa).  

Everyone is a stranger.  Even the best of friends were once strangers.  I find this empowering; it's a reminder that we shouldn't be so scared of each other.  Time and time again, I'll be out in public, on the subway or wherever, and people look petrified to be surrounded by those they're unfamiliar with.  We think the solution is to insulate ourselves and exist in public with an anonymous detachment.  

But behold! There is another way...!

Just start talking to people.  Imagine if you were just riding the subway and someone was friendly to you on an authentic, human level.  Commented on a book you were reading, or said, "Nice shoes, man."  It would feel good.  It would bring some warmth and soul into what is otherwise a pretty bleak and soulless routine (anyone who lives in a city and uses public transport knows precisely what I'm talking about).  

Some of the oft-forgotten benefits of talking to strangers:

-New relationships.  You can't know people well if you don't know people.

-Mood lift.  There's a nice natural high that follows having a quick, positive exchange with someone else.  

-Preferential treatment.  You shouldn't be nice to people just to get stuff, but you'd be surprised how others' reactions will change if you're genuinely friendly.  Not to brag or anything, but I got an extra egg on my breakfast sandwich the other morning just for being a nice guy.  No big deal...

-Improved confidence.  What better way to build social skills and confidence than to practice on people you'll probably never see again?

-Altruism.  People feel good when you acknowledge their presence.  Modern life can get pretty rough, and sitting on a crowded subway with no one to talk to feels lonely.  Break the barrier and make a positive connection with someone, even if it's nothing more than a quick smile.

If you act spontaneous, your environment and the people around you will likely respond in equally interesting and spontaneous ways.  Bring some "good vibes", for lack of a better term, into your day-to-day interactions with strangers, and your life will change for the better.  Have fun and be safe.  

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