In light of me meeting and growing close to many new people, I've been thinking a lot about how people move in and out of our lives. Everyone in our life starts as a stranger. But by some stroke of fate, some strangers become friends, and other strangers become more. But that doesn't always mean that these people will eternally remain in your life. Some people will, but others won't. Sometimes, you lose touch with old friends. Sometimes you become physically or emotionally distanced from someone. Sometimes people simply just can’t remain in your life anymore, for whatever reason.
It's weird to think back to all my friendships and relationships, and remember the time when all these important people were strangers to me. When each was just another unfamiliar person. Someone I wouldn't have recognized if they passed me by on the street. What if you never went to that party? What if you chose a different college? What if they didn’t chose to introduce themselves? When you first encounter someone, you never know how much they could end up meaning to you. Sometimes, it's hard not to believe in fate. One of two things can happen when you first meet someone; you end up forming some type of connection with them, or they just become another name you forget. Another fleeting introduction that is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. And you never know which one it's going to be.
But knowing people operates like a cycle; every person begins as a stranger. Then you know them. And then, some people become strangers again. Lately, I've learned that not everyone is meant to stay in our lives. It's a sad, but inevitable fact. The phenomenon of how we go from seeing someone as a stranger, to seeing them as our entire world is wondrous. But arguably more puzzling is how people fade from our lives. How we slowly begin to feel less and less comfortable around them. How we can tell that something has clearly changed, but we can't put our finger on what. And then, we realize that we don’t really know this person anymore; they are once again a stranger to us. The transition from friend to stranger is almost more astounding and confusing than the process of growing close to someone.
I am so grateful for all the friends I have met or grown closer to on my trip to England. I’ve never been very good at maintaining “acquaintance” type relationships with people (probably due to my small talk skills, which are considerably lacking), so I really value all those I have grown much closer to through our cider-spiked pub crawls, visits to PT, and hostel adventures. Considering that I’m pretty slow to warm up to new people, I love that I have made so many connections on this trip that I feel comfortable being my complete self around everyone. I’ve also had the chance to meet a wide variety of international individuals who have really widened my horizons. Although I’m somewhat of an introvert, I definitely still have a social personality and really enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. Meeting new people and getting to know not-so-new people is an exhilarating experience. Humans naturally crave companionship and emotional connection, and I really enjoy the experience of trying to know people to the deepest level possible. Everyday, there are a few less strangers to me on this planet, and I like that.
-Madeline
It's weird to think back to all my friendships and relationships, and remember the time when all these important people were strangers to me. When each was just another unfamiliar person. Someone I wouldn't have recognized if they passed me by on the street. What if you never went to that party? What if you chose a different college? What if they didn’t chose to introduce themselves? When you first encounter someone, you never know how much they could end up meaning to you. Sometimes, it's hard not to believe in fate. One of two things can happen when you first meet someone; you end up forming some type of connection with them, or they just become another name you forget. Another fleeting introduction that is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. And you never know which one it's going to be.
But knowing people operates like a cycle; every person begins as a stranger. Then you know them. And then, some people become strangers again. Lately, I've learned that not everyone is meant to stay in our lives. It's a sad, but inevitable fact. The phenomenon of how we go from seeing someone as a stranger, to seeing them as our entire world is wondrous. But arguably more puzzling is how people fade from our lives. How we slowly begin to feel less and less comfortable around them. How we can tell that something has clearly changed, but we can't put our finger on what. And then, we realize that we don’t really know this person anymore; they are once again a stranger to us. The transition from friend to stranger is almost more astounding and confusing than the process of growing close to someone.
I am so grateful for all the friends I have met or grown closer to on my trip to England. I’ve never been very good at maintaining “acquaintance” type relationships with people (probably due to my small talk skills, which are considerably lacking), so I really value all those I have grown much closer to through our cider-spiked pub crawls, visits to PT, and hostel adventures. Considering that I’m pretty slow to warm up to new people, I love that I have made so many connections on this trip that I feel comfortable being my complete self around everyone. I’ve also had the chance to meet a wide variety of international individuals who have really widened my horizons. Although I’m somewhat of an introvert, I definitely still have a social personality and really enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. Meeting new people and getting to know not-so-new people is an exhilarating experience. Humans naturally crave companionship and emotional connection, and I really enjoy the experience of trying to know people to the deepest level possible. Everyday, there are a few less strangers to me on this planet, and I like that.
-Madeline