Smalltalk with Strangers

Is smalltalk ever valuable?

You never know how alone or unsafe someone might feel as they move about their day.

A lot might be going on in someone’s mind… that they don’t say out loud, or show in their behavior.

Small talk may help them feel more connected, comfortable, and seen

Giving them a sense that the world and people are safer than their mind tells them.

On my travels yesterday, a stranger (on a line) told me she liked the color of my glasses, which started a friendly conversation.

Another (in a big multi-floor building) smiled and said she remembered me from a few months ago when I asked her where the restroom was.

And a third (in the park) asked me what kind of bird I was photographing.

I appreciate these three people.

Even if I never see them again, I count them as friends.

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Do you make smalltalk with people you don’t know?