The Secret Benefits of Talking to Strangersfeatured

From a young age we’re told not to talk to strangers. Even as we get older and learn that very few strangers are dangerous, our reluctance to reach out and speak to people doesn’t seem to subside.

We’re lovely people, but whether we’re on public transport or in a coffee shop, we tend to keep ourselves to ourselves, only really speaking to others when we absolutely have to.

When we crawl onto the bus first thing in the morning, the last thing we want is a full-blown chat with the person next to us. We’ll sit there, staring down into our phones and chatting to strangers on social media while ignoring the fellow humans around us.

We’d never dream of *actually* chatting to strangers on the bus because we’re convinced they just want to be left alone too!

Of course, many people do want to be left alone and there’s nothing wrong with that, but I suspect there are just as many people who would love nothing more than a good old natter during the morning commute. The only problem is, these people are difficult to spot. How do you know who’s up for a chat and who’s not?!

The good news is, a brand new company called Heart On Your Sleeve (let’s called them HOYS for short) has taken this into account, designing two hexagon-shaped badges with a heart cut out of the centre for friendly people to wear. HOYS’ founder, Ilana Pine is hopeful that eventually, enough people will be wearing the badges that new and exciting conversations will be struck up in public spaces frequently. She wants to help people increase their circle of friends, boost their business network and even find love.

As Ilana explains on the website: “If you don’t know someone, it is often difficult to start a conversation. The tricky bit is not knowing what kind of reception you will initially get. All that is set to change. We present the badge that says “hello”. It says, “I like people”, “I’m approachable”.

You can find Heart On Your Sleeve on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you love hearing about good deeds and reading positive and inspirational stories, give them a follow!

Whether you decide that a badge is for you or not, here are just a few reasons you should start talking to strangers:

Taking a break from the internet is good for you

As fun as it can be to spend your commute tweeting or playing Angry Birds 2, taking a break from your phone can have a more positive impact on your health and happiness.

Thanks to the internet and social media, we’re supposed to be more connected than ever before, but in reality, studies suggest that spending too much time online can make us lonelier and increase our risk of depression. Remind yourself what the real world looks and sounds like by unplugging and taking a break.

You can help tackle loneliness

Loneliness is a huge issue across the world and many experts believe it can have a negative impact on not only our mental health but our physical health too.

By making the effort to speak to others, whether that’s in a public place on the spur of the moment or through a befriending scheme, you can really help those who may be feeling lonely.

We tend to associate loneliness with the elderly, but it’s important to be aware that loneliness can affect the young too. In fact, a study found that 18-24 year olds are four times more likely to feel lonely than those over the age of 70.

You could unearth exciting stories and start a new adventure

How many of you follow Humans of New York on Facebook? If you’ve somehow managed to miss this internet sensation, it’s basically a project which shares the photos of random New Yorkers along with a snippet of information about their lives. One day we might read a tale about how an elderly couple first met, the next we might read about a stranger’s harrowing battle with addiction.

We’re reminded that each and every person we walk past has their own story to tell and many of these people are fighting their own private battles.

Of course, not every stranger you meet will be willing to tell you their life story straight away, but by chatting to people you’ve never met before you could benefit from some much-needed inspiration and even a new outlook on life. Be brave and start a new adventure!

Making someone’s day might just make yours too

The best part of chatting to strangers? Definitely the fact you can make someone’s day and leave them smiling from ear to ear. Whether you compliment someone on their jacket or pay for a stranger’s coffee, there are so many ways you can cheer up a stranger. You’re likely to feel great too and you never know, maybe someone will do the same for you one day.