Talk To Me
Some people may think I’m a bit weird for loving to sit and visit with anyone I come across, but it’s a great way to make new friends. I can’t be the only one, can I? Has visiting become a lost art? Does no one care to befriend a stranger in these times? My favorite travel tip is to request the middle seat on an airplane. I know some people can’t imagine picking that seat on purpose, they think it’s so strange. However, I see it as an easy chance to make two new friends instead of just one.
On a recent flight home from Dallas I was so sad to see everyone with their headphones in before we even took off. After seeing that, I thought about all the times single people have told me how hard it is to meet and date someone in today’s world and this recent flight showed me how truly challenging it must be. These days, it seems no one wants to look up, say hello to, or even smile at those around them. I felt a bit heartsick at how closed off we are and how lonely some people must feel. We’re all so lost in our own world we miss noticing all that is going on around us.
By closing ourselves off, we lose the opportunity to connect with one another and make new friends. What’s worse is, I think it’s even more common for young people to have their headphones in all day, even at work in an office setting. We’ve lost track of the art of small talk, connecting, and being able to interact and carry on a conversation even in the simplest of settings.
This week, I encourage you to smile and say hello to three new people each day. If you can commit to opening yourself up, whether that means leaving your headphones off for the first 20 minutes of a flight or offering a simple morning greeting, you may just find your next best friend or turn someone’s bad day around.
What does living your exceptional life look like to you?
What will you do to make a new connection this week?
Are you open to listening or do you close off?
Where is your favorite place to talk to new people?
