Do (n't) Talk To Strangers

Guest Blogger - A.C. Workman

Let’s see. Mama always said…  

• Say your prayers.
• Look both ways before you cross the street.
• Don’t chew with your mouth open.
• Sit up straight.
• Don't play in traffic.
• And never, never-ever-ever, talk to strangers!!!

Now, I’m not gonna lie - some of this is pretty damned good advice (especially the part about not playing in traffic...I mean who wants to get hit by a car!), but as I’ve matured into the bastion of  wisdom  and insight that I am today, I’ve come to learn that Moms was wrong about a whole lotta things.  Especially that stuff about not talking to strangers.  

For the professional Creative (and by that I mean anyone who taps into their imagination as a key part of the work that they do) there’s no one quite so propitious to know as a perfect stranger. Why? Because they expose us to the new, the unexpected, to  possibility and discovery.  And, keeping our eyes and ears open for the fresh and the new is critical to the Creative’s success.   

The thing is, we human beings are creatures of habit. Even when we make a concerted effort to stray from the beaten path, and live the life “less ordinary” (to keep the creative juices flowing) that comfort zone is just so damned -well, comfortable. You know, there’s that one particular coffee shop that makes our hazelnut latte just so? There’s the gas station that’s situated on the perfect corner, so when you exit you don’t have to pop a U-turn to get back on the highway?  Should I go on? The point is - before we know it, we are all nice and super comfortable in our little grooves, patterns and routines, finding ourselves running into the same faces over and over again. Problem with that is -we don't get to truly understand that age old saying - "variety is the spice of life."

What to do, inspiration seekers?  Should we give up our favorite coffee shop with the bomb-ass hazelnut lattes?  Hell to the no!  I prefer to switch up my idea-routine with a little less jolting to my delicious hot beverage consumption habits.  Solution? Talk to Strangers!! While we’re in that same-ol’ same ol’ coffeeshop, how’s about striking up a convo with the soccer mom ordering her non-fat white mocha, or the Chuck Taylor-rockin’ emo kid waiting on his café Americano? With every stranger there is the delicious opportunity to shatter our daily patterns, to break our tired routines. Someone who will say or tell you about something you weren't aware of before. Get your synapses firing about things you never even considered.  No, it doesn’t happen every time, or even every day. You’ve gotta kiss a whole lot of stranger “frogs”, before you get to your Prince.  But, keep on kissing.  There’s  nothing to lose.  

And,  every once in a while, sitting next to senor old school on the subway, or waiting in line at the bakery for your marble rye, you stumble across some rare gem of a human being! I’m talking about the extraordinary-ordinary, someone who inadvertently does or says something that opens up a new window in your mind and lets a nice, fresh breeze in. Next thing you know, you’ve got the answer to that nagging design question you’ve been fighting with. Or, you know just what it is that your big presentation was missing.  You’ve got your business-creative “eureka” moment! Or, if you’re a professionals scribbler (like yours truly) you’ve got your next great topic for a magazine article (p.s. I’m currently working on a story about “Female Tatttoo Artists” after striking up an interesting  little parley with a body-art covered stranger I ran into at my gym!)  Strangers are creative gold mines, y’all.  Put on your hard hats and get to panning that precious human metal!!  

The next time you’re stuck on a 5-hour flight, on the way to some boring conference, don’t just get out the palm pilot or iPhone or whatever and start tapping away.  Strike up a wee tete-a-tete.  Forget what your mama told ya  and TALK TO A STRANGER.  You may just find inspiration, entertainment,  your Muse – maybe even a potential new client or business partner.  But, please, please, please……remember to still listen to momma and don't play in traffic!!

Comments

[aisha]

I totally agree, Rasul! Changing up patterns creates new energy and new inspiration - love it!!

[Bryan]

Fantastic and refreshing. The world would be a much more tolerant place if people gained perspective by talking to others.

[Rasul Sha'ir]

Hey Aisha, thanks for the comment. I've had many a cool experience myself reaching out to strangers!

[Rasul Sha'ir]

Glad you liked the post Bryan and many thank you's for your response. Glad you found the post 'refreshing' (I like how you phrased that). Hope you continue tune in to our blog! Be well my friend.

[Bonifer]

The ability to talk to strangers? It's the hallmark of a grown-up.

Thanks for the post, Rasul. Great observations.

[Rasul Sha'ir]

Hey Mike, I remember your story on the train here in DC and striking up conversations with complete strangers. As I was posting this blog (written by Ms. Workman) your stories about those conversations definitely came to mind. Good stuff. Keep improvising the game!

[alison claire]

Wow. Great comments. Thanks to Aisha, Bryan and Mr. Bonifer for taking the time to read, and special thanks to Rasul for letting me in his "home". CNVRGNC/Threshold is a great big old playground of ideas for grown ups. Thanks for letting me come over to play.