“Stranger Danger” is a universal “truth” we’ve been taught to believe.
It’s true, there are some really creepy people out there—and for a five-year-old child, this is important guidance. But for a grown adult, the only “danger” comes from listening to this advice.
Talking to strangers has become part of my everyday life. It’s one of the things I wake up and get excited to do. Life would just be so much cooler if we all talked to each other more. Like why is it so incredibly weird if I start a conversation with the person next to me on the train? Why are we supposed to just leave everyone alone? Doesn’t it make you happy when a stranger asks how your day is going? So why don’t we do it more? We’re so weird.
The truth is, talking to people we don’t know makes us so nervous. But the more we do things that make us nervous, the more comfortable we feel.
Conquering these anxieties and talking to strangers is so important and here’s why:
1. They make you see life through a different lens.
Some people are so stuck inside their own little bubbles that they have no idea what is going on in other people’s heads. Because of this, they miss out on the opportunity to meet exciting people and ultimately learn something new.
Talking to strangers, especially from different walks of life, helps us better understand people and the world around us. They force us to think a different way than we’re used to, giving us a new perspective on life.
I once met a little girl at the park. I don’t remember her name, but I could pick her sad eyes out of any crowd. She was all by herself. She told me her mom couldn’t walk her to the park the way she used to because she had cancer and she was too weak. She told me that people think she’s weird in school and asked me if I believed in God.
For a moment, I could truly imagine myself in her shoes. I had learned so much about this little girl, but the most important thing I learned is that she was a human being, just like me.
2. You just might make their day, or they’ll make yours.
It’s refreshing to take a break from everyday life to talk to a random person. A lot of times, these random people will make your day. Like this old woman who couldn’t leave the grocery store without telling me I was beautiful. I cried. She made my day with two words.
Don’t keep these nice comments to yourself! I mean, what’s the point? If you could make someone’s day, why wouldn’t you say it? When you acknowledge someone else’s existence and even compliment it, it makes them feel like they matter.
3. They keep you dreaming.
There’s something beautiful about talking to someone and never seeing them again. That way, you’ll remember them exactly for that moment. They don’t possess the power to disappoint you. Most of the time, you never get to find out what it would be like to know that person in real life, so you get to imagine the perfect ending forever. And we all need at least one perfect ending.
So, talk to people in the elevator, in the bathroom and on the street. Talk to them everywhere! Strangers will seriously impact your life, but only if you give them the chance.
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