Who do you spend most of your day with? With whom you had a meaningful conversation today?
What percentage of the your day you talk to people that are part of your everyday life that are not necessarily any of your dear friends or family members? Don't you wonder? A colleague next to me in the elevator, my yoga classmate, my hairdresser, the attendant at the dry cleaner, the bagger at the supermarket, my salsa lesson instructor or the Barista at my favorite coffee. All of them give me often times a friendly smile, a quick chat, and even a hug. As we see each other often, we engage in more details of our mundane topics. Five minutes at the time, as often as every day, once a week or once a month. By making the effort to thank them by their names (name tags help!) I often get a big smile in return. Do we make the world more human if we consider these unfamiliar faces a bit more familiar? I wonder when I take a sincere interest to all wonderful people who are part of my everyday life, would it make me more mindful and empathetic? And perhaps lead to caring friendships?
The challenge became more intense when I resided in a place where I did not master the native language. This task was based more on gestures and actions. At the same time the sense of loneliness was more acute. Did this make me more emphatic? Absolutely!
The risk of rejection is high as now society is more suspicious and vigilant of unrequested friendliness.
Would we be able to make a better ambience around us by trying to notice our unfamiliar familiar faces and reach out? Shall we try? Tell me what you think and what is your experience.
Have an amazing evening!
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