Many people go through their daily lives without ever making connections to strangers or even taking the time to comment on something they see. It can be the most innocuous thing; like today for example, a family came in to my work wearing shirts that all had to do with a sport that I used to play in high school. Normally whenever I see those kinds of things, I always pause and wonder if I had run into this person before. The next thing I do is ask them about their shirt. This family in particular were absolutely overjoyed when I commented on what they were wearing. The daughter and mother even laughed that they had accidentally worn the same shirt. Then they went on to ask when I had played the sport, and pointed out that another person in our office also played that sport after I pointed out that there was a Christmas card on our wall with a picture of someone competing. Overall, it was a generally warm and happy feeling, and that left me smiling for many minutes after.

Then came the other boy, whose mom had overheard that I also played that sport. He too, seemed overjoyed that it was such a small world, and his mother even ask who my coach had been. I replied there had been 3 of them, one of which we shared in common after he left my school to coach at theirs. There is something absolutely pure about connecting with people who would otherwise have just been strangers to me. I see so many people in one day that it’s easy to just forget them and move on to whatever task I’m doing next, but I love it when I can take a little time out of my day and converse with someone that ends up making me happy. I hope that the next time they come into my work, they’ll remember me even if I’m not there.

There was also another mother who wore a Robotics t-shirt for the school that I went to, which I have several identical copies of in my own closet. It made my whole world brighten up by several shades seeing that god awful yellow shirt with a bunch of smiling girls on it, just because I knew that shirt. I love that shirt. And I loved the people behind it and connected with it, so by extension I already loved this lady for being part of those happy memories. Although she seemed a little worried when I commented on it at first, she still smiled when I told her that I had once been at the school, serving as a proud member of that robotics team.

My parents always told me not to talk to strangers, sure, but how else would I make friends or acquaintances now if I didn’t? How would I ever get a job, order food, or do basically any other parts integral to our lives if I didn’t talk to strangers? Of course this is not to say you should go out and make conversation with people who potentially give you an uneasy vibe, but take some time to greet your mailman, your customers, your cashier. Make them no longer strangers to you.