On "Strangers"

When my younger son was very little,  his grandma told him to be sure "not to talk with strangers."

She wanted to keep him safe, and in the process, she confused the heck out of him. With his already very logical and adventurous mind, her advice had puzzled him. He thought for a second, and then, truly wanting to understand how this worked, he asked: "But... how do I make new friends if I don't talk to strangers?"

Which is an excellent point.

Last night, my kitchen was filled with "strangers." Two groups of Airbnb guests whom I had never met and who had never met one another. Within minutes, we were all sitting around the small kitchen table sharing about our lives, laughing and learning from each other. As I went to bed, they stayed up talking, and I could hear their happy connecting for quite a bit longer. When they left, this morning, we had each gained three new friends.

From strangers to friends. Strangers who did not know that they had new friends to meet, but who walk the world assuming that that's probably the case.

I love that.  And I love that my son got that, so very young.

Richard Renaldi is another person who believes we are all connected, and goes about life with his camera, inviting that, and catching it.

This morning, I am sharing with you this very short film that will help remind you how not alone you are, how many "strangers" are out there waiting to celebrate being your friends.

I think you will like it.

Good morning!