We must interact and connect with people around us. After all, man is a social animal. I realised the importance of interactions and connections early on in life. As a child, I always found it easy to make friends. The boy from the corner house who loved cricket and spoke very little was my friend; the shy girl from the dance class; the maid’s daughter who occasionally came home–all were my friends. These people brought so much happiness to my life.
Things change as you grow. When I was sent to a boarding school, I found a bigger turf to make friends. As children and teenagers, it is easier to make friends. But as an adult, I have observed that some of my peers find it hard to befriend strangers. I, on the other hand, make friends wherever I go–in the lift, at the flea market, on a solo trip, in the parking lot… There is some amount of extroversion that is needed, I agree. But if you can let go of your inhibitions, you too might find yourself forging strong friendships.
From my experience, I have learned two things–friendships with strangers can be life-changing and they may or may not last forever. But for the fleeting moments they last, they are worthwhile. Let me try and convince you with these three encounters I had and how they brought memorable friendships into my life.
The girl at the bus stop
Her face was familiar. I had seen her earlier in the same stop waiting for a bus, probably to go to work. We had only exchanged glances a long time ago. I had thought she was haughty. Though we took the same bus nearly every day, we never talked. But one day, it was just the two of us at the stop. The bus that had taken its own sweet time to arrive was completely jam-packed. At that instant, both of us looked at each other with a hopeless smile. Both of us muttered ‘Not again!’ in unison and broke into a laugh. We had been strangers until then. But something about that laughter made us feel like we had known each other forever, and it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. We don’t meet every day, but when we do, we have a hearty chat about life, death, and everything in between. Looking back, I realise first impressions are not always right.
We spoke all night about books, movies and music. That night did not seem as long as I had imagined. She had offered me a sense of comfort and solace when I had no one to care for me.
Yes, it is possible to form friendships with strangers.
By letting go of inhibitions, being open to new connections, and engaging in genuine conversations, friendships can be forged with strangers.
Friendships with strangers can be life-changing, even if they may not last forever. The fleeting moments of connection and shared experiences can be incredibly worthwhile.
Yes, first impressions are not always accurate. It is important to keep an open mind and give friendships a chance to grow beyond first encounters.
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