The Unexpected Joy of Talking to Strangers
It was a rainy Saturday morning. Since moving to my new home six months ago, I hadn’t really gotten involved in the community—until yesterday, when I volunteered at the local art museum for the first time.
My role was simple: help check in guests as they arrived for a spring event.
As an introvert who would usually rather look at her phone than engage in small talk with strangers, this meant stepping outside of my comfort zone. For a full hour, I greeted people, exchanged pleasantries, and made conversation with guests I had never met before.
What I never would have guessed was how I’d feel leaving the museum after my shift—I walked out feeling like I had just won the lottery.
To my surprise, I felt an immense sense of joy and aliveness from doing something I had long assumed was energy-draining rather than life-giving: talking to strangers.
Simple exchanges like “I love the color of your coat,” “What brings you in today?” or “How’s your morning so far?” opened the door to something deeper.
For me, it was the feeling of being connected to another human being, and knowing I’d brightened someone’s day—even if just for a moment—that made it all feel so special.
It was witnessing a shift in body language—from closed and guarded to open and relaxed.
It was watching someone’s mood transform—from distant to animated and full of life.
It was catching the sparkle in their eyes and seeing a smile spread across their face.
It was hearing them initiate a follow-up conversation, giving me a glimpse into their world:
“I made sure I was first in line today because I have my eyes on this watercolor card with a fox on it…”
It was discovering their essence radiating from the inside out.
It was witnessing change in others—and feeling an unexpected joy ripple within me—through the simple act of striking up a conversation and sharing a laugh together.
That hour reminded me of something I had forgotten: the quiet, healing power of human connection. These small moments are like electric pulses that reactivate our hearts, reminding us of our innate capacity for love, for empathy, and for joy.
We are all connected—interwoven in ways we may have forgotten, with powers we too often neglect. The power to brighten someone else’s day. The power to show up with kindness. The power to connect.
In a world that feels increasingly digitized, mechanized, and divided, we need connection now more than ever—more than we may even realize.
For me, this means continuing to show up in my community. Saying yes to new experiences. And rediscovering the joy of talking to strangers.
It doesn’t have to be a big gesture either. It could be as small as saying something kind to the cashier at the grocery store or asking “How’s your morning been?” when we call customer service next.
A little can go a long way.
And that power—that light—is already within us.
Inviting You to Reflect on:
When was the last time you had a meaningful interaction with a stranger? How did it make you feel?
In what simple ways can you bring more warmth and connection into your everyday encounters?
What would it look like to be a source of light in someone else’s day today?