Talking to Strangers

This morning I saw this on my Facebook page.  What an inspiring way to start off a new month.  It embodies everything that I am trying to promote!

• You can start fresh and begin again, wipe the slate clean.
• Today you can embrace kindness
• Practice compassion
• Stand up for justice
• Talk to strangers
• Ask for help
• Offer hope
• Listen with your whole heart
• Work for the common good
• Love well
• YOU can be the change you wish to see in the world

It only takes one person to make a change.  Be that person!

Many of these things are not difficult.  My favorite one, yet the one I am probably the most uncomfortable with, is “talk to strangers”.  This seems ironic, since we are always warning our children to do the opposite. I read somewhere that, “every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours”.  This is so true.  It will go beyond my comfort zone, but, I am making it my personal goal to do this.  It should not be too hard.  I see new people all of the time.  It can start with a smile, a “hello”, or “how are you today”?   Tomorrow, I will begin, as I attend my first meeting of “The Maplewood Kindness Committee”.   I do not know anyone in the group, nor do I know what to expect, but as Will Rogers said, “Strangers are just friends I haven’t met yet,” so I will go knowing no one but perhaps leave, making some new  friends in the process.