Day 6 – A stranger

Dear Stranger,

I often wonder who you are and where you’re going.  I stand with you at the train station or the bus stop, observing, wondering what the person you are is like, intellectually and personally.  I feel as if I should know you.  I feel like I don’t want us to be strangers.  Where are you off to on your journey?  Home?  Meeting a client?  A holiday?  To see your family or your other half?  A job interview perhaps?

It annoys me that I can’t possibly know everyone in a world as big as this one is because I feel there are SO many amazing lives and amazing people out there just passing me by, day after day, night after night at work.  You get your fuel and you go, and sometimes it’s the only time I’ll ever see you – in that one sincere greeting and ‘Have a nice night’, but even moreso where it’s not part of my job, I can’t just wander up to every single stranger and introduce myself as Matt, "Hi, I’d like to get to know you.’

If only that were possible.  But even if it were possible, I’m sure I would be driven insane knowing so many people.  It just seems a waste to me that we can cross paths or almost cross paths by standing next to each other waiting for a train, or seeing each other across a platform or even a dancefloor, and that eye contact will more often than not be the only contact we ever make in this lifetime.  It makes me sad.  I feel as though I want to hug you and become your friend.  But I can’t do that – people can go to court for ‘sexual harassment’ even for that.  I was taught even at a leadership camp that we could not hug a camper unless we first asked and got permission from that person.  It’s crazy.  A hug to me is comforting.  I’m not saying I want to hug everybody, but when I’ve been out in public and I’ve seen up upset person, either sitting alone at a bar and sobbing with their head in their hands, I really want to go over and console them.  I hesitate.  But why?  Why do I hesitate when all I want to provide is some comfort and a good deed?

I just feel there are so, SO many amazing people out there whom I will never know.  One passing glance, whether it’s checking out a hot guy or just observing something unique about someone, or a stunning pair of heels and outfit a beautiful woman is wearing, is sometimes all I can and will ever obtain from that person.  No spoken words, no ‘hello who are you?’ – you just go on your merry way and I remain another stranger amongst the many civilians that you come across in your day.

This letter is to you.  Just to let you know that I do notice you, and I do wonder about you.  What goes on inside your head and IF it is anything even remotely close to what goes on in mine.  Not everyone can be an ignorant asshole.  I look at you and wonder if i do say hi, could there ever be something there?  A friendship?  A polite smile even?  Something more than brushing shoulders as we pass each other without a second look?

Please write back.  Tell me you feel the same about me.  Please.  I could be interesting, you never know…

From a fellow stranger,

-Matt.