30 DAYS OF STORIES / Volume I Edition I
Next time you see someone you want to get to know, take the first step: look into their eyes and say, "Hi!" You never know what you might learn.
30 days of talking to someone every day. I'll be honest -- this challenge scared me. I've often been in situations where I'm sitting next to someone I really want to talk to ("Just do it already!") but didn't, just because I was scared. I would ask myself so many "what if" questions that I'd lose the chance to get to know someone new, and the cycle would repeat all over again.
Since I wear hearing aids, I'm not always able to hear what other people are saying. While in reality the situation might not be as drastic as I imagine, I still struggle with coming to terms with my hearing loss.
Talking to people opens your mind and makes you realize that people are human. Most of the time, they're nothing like what you first imagined. Everyone has their strengths, weaknesses, and something that defines their story out of the seven billion other people on this planet. Knowing more people made me feel more connected and aware of what was going on around me. On the first day of the challenge, I met a girl named Grace. While our conversation was brief, we talked about her anxiety about a solo audition later that day. She was going for it, despite having a lot of worries, and this inspired me. To this day, her story resonates with me.
Just by looking at someone at first glance, I would have never guessed what stories or experiences they might hold. It shows just how much we don't know the people around us. Once you meet someone for the first time, you realize that they've always been there, just waiting to be discovered.
The stories of the people I met were diverse -- they ranged from silly to serious to extraordinary. Two weeks into the challenge, I met Noelia. She told me about the conflict of religion in her culture (in the aftermath of the election, at that). I happened to have a friend with me, and they bonded over the topic, despite coming from two completely different religions. That was amazing. I saw Noelia the next day, three times in different locations around the school and all three times, we waved "Hi!"
Since I wear hearing aids, I'm not always able to hear what other people are saying. While in reality the situation might not be as drastic as I imagine, I still struggle with coming to terms with my hearing loss.
Talking to people opens your mind and makes you realize that people are human. Most of the time, they're nothing like what you first imagined. Everyone has their strengths, weaknesses, and something that defines their story out of the seven billion other people on this planet. Knowing more people made me feel more connected and aware of what was going on around me. On the first day of the challenge, I met a girl named Grace. While our conversation was brief, we talked about her anxiety about a solo audition later that day. She was going for it, despite having a lot of worries, and this inspired me. To this day, her story resonates with me.
Just by looking at someone at first glance, I would have never guessed what stories or experiences they might hold. It shows just how much we don't know the people around us. Once you meet someone for the first time, you realize that they've always been there, just waiting to be discovered.
The stories of the people I met were diverse -- they ranged from silly to serious to extraordinary. Two weeks into the challenge, I met Noelia. She told me about the conflict of religion in her culture (in the aftermath of the election, at that). I happened to have a friend with me, and they bonded over the topic, despite coming from two completely different religions. That was amazing. I saw Noelia the next day, three times in different locations around the school and all three times, we waved "Hi!"
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Even after 30 days of walking up to people I've never met, and engaging them in a conversation, I'm still scared. But now, I feel more able to overcome the doubts in my mind. Over the course of this challenge, I didn't just meet new people -- I engaged the people I already had in my life, especially my parents and friends.
This was a great experience for me. It's beautiful how a short conversation can affect someone profoundly. So, I challenge you to talk to people. Get to know that guy who sits next to you in English class, or strike up a conversation with a girl in line for Starbucks. Some people might think it's a bit weird, but instead of asking "what if?" say "so what?" Just do it. People love to share their life stories, and you taking that step to get to know them could just make their day -- and yours, too. |