I love this so much. "Stay cool, baby," is an amazing phrase to be given by a stranger, and says everything about the vibe of New Orleans, without saying too much.
I enjoy chatting with the familiar strangers of my routine stops around town- the greeter at my local Walmart who fist bumps everyone with a huge smile on his face, the young woman who checks out groceries at Aldi with a simple "sup, how you?" and the woman at my local post office with outrageous nail designs who sings out "Hey pretty lady!"
This is beautiful and I love the idea of helping us see another person's humanity. It also makes me think (especially after reading the other comments) about why it is that a quick conversation with a stranger can feel so magical. Much different from that same interaction with someone we know.
I love this! I’ve been spending the month in NYC with my daughter who is in a summer dance program in the city. I’ve been journaling every night, trying to write down all those little tidbits of life around me. Yesterday, we were admiring a cute, little black pug walking by, and one of the pug’s humans said (in a perfectly NY accent), “Franklin, you’re being adored!” How perfect is that?
This was a great post. I think we all had stories come to mind. I was talking to the woman behind the counter at my dermatologist’s office. She looked tired, and in my mind I saw a single mom, barely getting by, who’s not an alcoholic but drinks too much. I noticed her fresh highlights and told her how nice her hair looked. She lit up and told me she had treated herself for Mother’s Day. Theres a whole story there, to me.
I discovered the power of a compliment when I decided a few years ago (was it around Covid time? when we started interacting in public again? don’t remember exactly) that the society I lived in needed a bit more honesty and kindness. (Switzerland is, in its native state, neither.) So I started saying the things I was thinking: what a lovely dress! the color suits you! or: your dog is so well-behaved! congratulations! or: your baby has the most delightful laugh!
And just for a moment, the suspicious Swiss stiffness dissolves.
It made me feel better about (feeling trapped) living here and I like to think these little ‘gifts’ brighten someone else’s day too.
But I never thought about writing them down before. Thank you, Jami.
I was once talking on the phone to a woman in an apartment leasing office, and she called me "ladybug." I never met her. Never spoke to her again. But I so loved being "ladybug" that I have never forgotten her.
I would like to be someone who calls strangers "ladybug." I feel like I'm not old enough yet. But maybe I can just decide that I am?
I love talking with strangers on my walks. Sometimes they're so surprised. Too often we dont acknowledge each other. I treasure the authentic connections. Good idea to write them down. Enjoy them twice. Thanks.
i love these little vignettes, these random sprinkles of life. also i misread one of your sentences as "two dogs ago" at first, which gave me a little "ha."
My mom loves talking to strangers, and it used to embarrass me, but I’ve come to realize other people love it, so I try to love it and do it, too.
I love this so much. "Stay cool, baby," is an amazing phrase to be given by a stranger, and says everything about the vibe of New Orleans, without saying too much.
I enjoy chatting with the familiar strangers of my routine stops around town- the greeter at my local Walmart who fist bumps everyone with a huge smile on his face, the young woman who checks out groceries at Aldi with a simple "sup, how you?" and the woman at my local post office with outrageous nail designs who sings out "Hey pretty lady!"
This is beautiful and I love the idea of helping us see another person's humanity. It also makes me think (especially after reading the other comments) about why it is that a quick conversation with a stranger can feel so magical. Much different from that same interaction with someone we know.
I love this! I’ve been spending the month in NYC with my daughter who is in a summer dance program in the city. I’ve been journaling every night, trying to write down all those little tidbits of life around me. Yesterday, we were admiring a cute, little black pug walking by, and one of the pug’s humans said (in a perfectly NY accent), “Franklin, you’re being adored!” How perfect is that?
I melted.
This was a great post. I think we all had stories come to mind. I was talking to the woman behind the counter at my dermatologist’s office. She looked tired, and in my mind I saw a single mom, barely getting by, who’s not an alcoholic but drinks too much. I noticed her fresh highlights and told her how nice her hair looked. She lit up and told me she had treated herself for Mother’s Day. Theres a whole story there, to me.
I discovered the power of a compliment when I decided a few years ago (was it around Covid time? when we started interacting in public again? don’t remember exactly) that the society I lived in needed a bit more honesty and kindness. (Switzerland is, in its native state, neither.) So I started saying the things I was thinking: what a lovely dress! the color suits you! or: your dog is so well-behaved! congratulations! or: your baby has the most delightful laugh!
And just for a moment, the suspicious Swiss stiffness dissolves.
It made me feel better about (feeling trapped) living here and I like to think these little ‘gifts’ brighten someone else’s day too.
But I never thought about writing them down before. Thank you, Jami.
Your post was an unexpected inspiration to me today. Thank you.
Love this. 😊
I was once talking on the phone to a woman in an apartment leasing office, and she called me "ladybug." I never met her. Never spoke to her again. But I so loved being "ladybug" that I have never forgotten her.
I would like to be someone who calls strangers "ladybug." I feel like I'm not old enough yet. But maybe I can just decide that I am?
Stay cool, baby!
Well I’m old enough so I might start doing that! I love it.
“Costs ya nothin’,” as my grandmother would say. And you never know what you’ll get in return.
I love talking with strangers on my walks. Sometimes they're so surprised. Too often we dont acknowledge each other. I treasure the authentic connections. Good idea to write them down. Enjoy them twice. Thanks.
i love these little vignettes, these random sprinkles of life. also i misread one of your sentences as "two dogs ago" at first, which gave me a little "ha."
Beautiful!
I love this so much and it’s so true- you often get a little story as a gift in the exchange.