Comments on: Sunday Life: the gorgeous value of strangers

By: Strangers On Trains « Max-Gratitude

Strangers On Trains « Max-Gratitude — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:16:47 +0000

[...] I know sometimes those kind of encounters can get creepy, fast, but when they don’t, they’re really kind of fun. There is some merit to this, I’ve read about our need to connect with strangers on Sarah Wilson’s blog and you might like to read it too. [...]

By: Lionel Papka

Lionel Papka — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:12:15 +0000

Rather than produce the same old content you have taken this subject to a whole new level . Kudos for not following the standard writing crowd.

By: Safe Pranks

Safe Pranks — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:08:36 +0000

Interesting blog! Keep up the good work!

By: Grace

Grace — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:48:15 +0000

I enjoy meeting strangers. I open and talk very openly with people I know I am going to only meet once when I am in the mood to talk. I suppose it is because I know I will not meet them again and hence my brain switches into “leave an impression” mood. Sometimes strangers can open up my perspective and give me advice which can change my life forever. It depends on where I meet these strangers tho if we really click this strangers can eventually become my friends.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:30:06 +0000

I love this post. I love strangers, don’t you ever wonder that if you’ll ever see them again?
Hm have you seen the movie ‘last stop for Paul?’
it’s a documentary about backpack travelling n the strangers/friends they meet/make along the way.
It’s an amazing movie. It’s funny, eye opening, touching at times.
It gave you that urgent feeling that makes you want to follow them backpacking.
And the way they portray the strangers are wonderful.
X

By: pharmacy technician

pharmacy technician — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:46:15 +0000

Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:10:03 +0000

Lisa…lovely!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 04 May 2010 00:56:01 +0000

When I shifted to Sydney 3 years ago and knew absolutely noone apart from the Black Dog who threatened to set up a permanent place in my life, my only “friends” were the strangers who worked at the butchers, the bakery, the fruit shop and the chicken shop.
I take them a small gift each Christmas as a quiet gesture of thanks that these people made me feel a little less lonely and meant I could end each day knowing I had had a conversation with someone.

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 03 May 2010 06:42:01 +0000

Sarah
I only started reading your column in Life a few weeks ago but now I can’t do without it.
How true this piece is: we take others for granted and miss out on so many benefits.
I’ve moved from an office after five years and realised I never knew the name of the guy who served me coffee all that time until the last two days. Sad really!
The other thing is to try the same approach to people you DO know. I was chatting the other night at a barbeque to a guy I’ve know a bit for years. I know him as a drummer and have played with him a few times. It turns out he’s a scientist involved with viruses and we had a really interesting talk about all sorts of things to do with that.
You only know people by connecting with them and you only know yourself through exactly the same lens! While I’m involved in the software business, all the Facebooking is not the same as being face-to-face and talking and listening.
From four years of working with an amazing life coach I’ve learnt that connections and a sense of tribe and belonging is hugely important to me. I believe we are all about the same in this respect.

For a fabulous song about belonging listen to “Many’s the Time” by Tim Finn.

By: Brittanny

Brittanny — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 22:19:25 +0000

This was a nice post. I enjoy talking to strangers more than people I know. The moment I start talking to someone randomly and I see their face light up because someone is just taking a few moments of their time to talk to them makes me happy. I know I feel a little bit better when someone starts up a conversation with me. Once I was in a clothing store and the girl working in accessories kept asking me if I needed help. I thought she was being overly helpful because people have a tendency to steal in that store but she actually just wanted to talk. I asked her about her schooling and what she wanted to do when she graduated college. I told her about my photography business. After about ten minutes she left me so I could continue shopping. I thought she was really sweet and just those few moments just sharing random chit chat left me feeling better about the day.