Don't be a stranger...

Ever met a stranger who did something nice to you? Be it a favor, carrying your groceries to your car, helping you up when you accidentally fell down, or just a mere smile which totally makes your day. I've came across this really amazing blog "One Minute Writer" and a sub-topic titled "Strangers", which has about 132 comments from all over the world, narrating their experiences with strangers who made a difference on their lives. http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2008/11/todays-writing-prompt-stranger.html

My first day in Adelaide and I was lost in Rundle mall at 8p.m. Shops were all closed. I had no idea how to get back to Mile End. I met a business-suit man and asked for directions to the bus. He was kind enough to offer me a lift home in his over-sized Land Rover. Before dropping me off, he gave me his name card and asked me to contact him should I encounter any difficulties in Adelaide seeing that I'm a new-comer. He defined Australians; he carved an image of Australians in my mind from that day onwards, that they are friendly and helpful people. I could not forget how nice he is until today for he really made my day. Simple things that strangers do can leave a mark in someone's life. It makes you feel that the world is somehow not as cold as you think it is.

The owner of the BMW parked opposite mine in my condominium. He did nothing but unselfishly offered his smile everytime we met in the lift. It brightened up my day after an usual long one.

Likewise, I started having conversation with strangers nowadays, partly to feel good about being nice to others and partly to experiment with the reaction that I am to receive when I randomly strike up a conversation with them. The world should be a harmonious place, isn't it, where people greet each others with smiles everyday, caring for each other instead of being cold, selfish, living in one's own world.

Today, I had two conversations with two different strangers and I received smiles from both of them. It made my day and I'm quite certain it made theirs too. The first was with a woman at the lift. We were waiting for the lift together and she was having a rather tight facial expression. When we exited the lift, there was a bunch of 12-13 year olds shrieking at the top of their lungs in swim suits heading towards the pool. I struck up a conversation with the woman.

Me: "Gosh, they were noisy, weren't they?"

Woman: " Yea, they definitely are (sounding totally agreeable). "

Me: "Kids, huh..." (laughed)

Woman: "Yea, kids " (laughed too).

Before she went off, she smiled at me and wished me a good day.

The second conversation was with a Domino's delivery guy. It was simple. I was about to enter my condominium which needed access card. Obviously he did not have one and he followed me in when I swiped mine. Before I exited the lift, I gave him the most untainted, true smile (somehow I just felt really friendly today) and wished him good night. I can tell I made his day by the facial expression he had at that point of time. Okay, I may be assuming his thoughts , but what I gather from his expression, or my own thoughts when I get that kind of treament is "Wow, he is really polite and nice, there are still nice people in this world and the world is not exactly cold. Well, as bad as my day seemed to be, there is still hope in this world. At least that guy made it better".

I guess all I wanted to say tonight is sometimes, if your emotions allow of course, smile to people. Make someone feel nice. For me, it feels nice to make someone else feel nice, not sure about you though, whoever you are reading this.