You always have something in common with a stranger because you're in the same place at the same time.

A conversation that goes nowhere beyond that moment is still meaningful.

Not every stranger will turn into a friend, and that's OK.

This post is Part 2 of a series. Part 1 can be found here.

Recently, I was asked to blurb a book called Once Upon a Stranger. In it, I learned fascinating insights on why talking to strangers can benefit you in ways that even your most intimate relationships can’t. I interviewed the author, Gillian Sandstrom, who is also an associate professor at The University of Sussex.

Gillian Sandstrom: So the QUICK framework on how to talk to strangers:

The one I use most often is asking a question—particularly tapping into genuine curiosity. I'll see someone doing something interesting and just ask, "What are you doing?" in a playful tone. I saw someone photographing a fence in a park and just said, "What are you doing?" It gets you past small talk immediately and into something real. And if you're observant, there are endless opportunities. I walk a lot, so if I see........

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