Make A Special Effort To Look Out For Strangers
Why not consider engaging more with strangers ? A smile, a greeting… even just the odd eye contact on the bus on the way to work. Sometimes it’s the very smallest and seemingly most insignificant things that can have the deepest impact. (On the eye-contact thing… try to avoid getting picked up or beaten up…)
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04 Sep 2005
I’ve always prayed for strangers when I see them looking worried or upset.
But I constantly need reminding!
07 Sep 2005
I had a lovely conversation with a complete stranger at Shifnal services recently, whilst I was having a much-needed coffee stop. Usually, I just dash in and out, but it was great for once to take a bit of time to pass the time of day with a fellow traveller. By the time I got back in the car, and hour had passed; I was much more calm and relaxed than when I’d first stopped and I had the somewhat cliche warm glow of having been nice to someone.
01 Oct 2005
Ive started trying to say hello to the people I pass every morning on the walk to my sons school. Its been quite rewarding, these strangers are not so strange any more, and mostly say hi or smile back.
02 Oct 2005
helping old ladies carry their shoppers down the stairs, giving away my seat on the tube, thinking of people as fellow humans, not strangers. i have that largely sussed
but think it’s as important to remember to be open when ‘strangers’ are looking out for me. my automatic response is ‘no thanks’ almost before i’ve even thought about the offer.
so when i’m not in control of the ‘thinking of strangers’ situation i’m a bit rubbish.
07 Oct 2005
It is embarrassing filling this bit in but for the sake of the project here goes. We have befriended a woman in her 60s who is in a wheelchair and has been for 35 years, following a horse riding accident in Argentina. – she was in the diplomatic service at the time. She only has the use of one arm and no leg use, but she has a very agile mind. We take her to Anglesey Abbey for a walk and lunch regularly; we visit her and take her stuff regularly; we whell her to events at the church and we listen to her very long and rambling telephone calls regualrly. Big deal, we have very privileged lives, so doing this frankly is nothing.
03 Nov 2005
Using local shops means you start to see people regularly. The same happens on my commute to work – so it’s easy just to give them a quick ‘hello’ a beaming smile and see what happens from there. Usually, people are willing to engage in small talk after a while, and then – well, who knows? But at least I know that by giving someone a smile, just for a split second they know that someone cares about them.
02 Jan 2006
I often want to thank the (mostly) men who are doing the street cleaning. Then I wonder if to do it would be condescending. They are doing work that I sure wouldn’t want to do. Still haven’t figured that out. But I do say hello if I meet them out on my walk.
04 Jan 2006
If I see someone cleaning the street on my behalf, I say thank you to them: just as one should thank the Postie at Christmas for their sterling work rain or shine. These guys work hard with precious little in the way of acknowledgement from people like us: they’re stars and deserve to be treated like such.
16 Jan 2006
always try to be friendly to strangers such as smiling or saying hello, when appropriate of course, but also try to help people out if they look like they need it, so this is my reminder to try and do that more often instead of being in such a rush all the time!
Leicester, GB , 23 Jan 2006
I have, rather nervously, offered my services to visit an isolated member of our Church congregation, who is currently unknown to me. This is a first and I’m not sure that I will be a “natural”. Hope it goes well for both of us. On a “thank you to public servants” theme, my friend always gives a box of biscuits to the bin men at Christmas and I thought this seemed a good idea. They pick up at 6.30 am and I was worried that my gifts would have been taken during the night but they weren’t and I could see through the window that the binmen and recycling men were pleased. Had quite a high Warm Glow rating. Any suggestions how to get a thank you present to a postie – I never see mine?
28 Jan 2006
I enjoy talking to people. I chat to the neighbours and I am still trying to organise that drinks party with neighbours who kindly have agreed to be key-holders, I have great conversations on taxi journeys and a few friendly exchanges with fellow passengers make a bus journey so much more fun.
30 Jan 2006
this is something I’m good at when I’m in a good mood but rubbish at when I’m not!
09 Feb 2006
I used to do this a lot before moving to London and have fallen out of the habit. Hoping this is the push I need to start behaving like a friendly human again!
30 Mar 2006
Living in a village makes this easier as everyone is pretty friendly anyway. What about going a bit further and doing something for people you know – we visit quite a few older people who are quite lonely.
04 Apr 2006
Each day I try to smile at someone I don’t know. My children hate it when I chat to pensioners at the bus stop!!
14 May 2006
I love meeting people so enjoy this one but it does take you well out of your comfort zone especially if responses are less than welcoming. Also, bit wary in case people (men in particular!)think I’m sort of eyeing them up or something!! Oh well, will persevere- maybe get a t-shirt with “I don’t fancy you I’m just being friendly!” on it!
05 Jul 2006
I always make a point of chatting with cashiers at the supermarket check out and over the years I’ve come to know so much about their lives and problems I feel as though I know some of them quite well.It makes a very boring job, for them and for me, more interesting and rewarding. It doesn’t take any extra time out of your day, but I think it makes a real difference. Also when buying the Big Issues, stop to ask the vendor how they are, what they are up to. It only takes a minute or two, it gives people respect, shows you are interested in their well being and can be quite revealing.
04 Aug 2006
“People say I’m strange – does that make me a stranger? My best friend was born in a manger!”
my daughters quote!
20 Aug 2006
I saw an elderly lady on her knees in the street and she was unable to get up. I pulled over (I was driving) and helped her up. She said she was ok and I went back to the car, she wobbled again and I offered her a lift but she insisted she was near her home and was ok. I decided to watch her out of my window to make sure she made it in one piece. Also saw a fellow that had collapsed and held his hand and spoke to him as he was very scared whilst the ambulance arrived – made sure his belongings went with him safely to hospital also.
25 Aug 2006
I’ve tried for the last couple of years to try and talk to people I don’t know very well. Then I realised it was still only people that I felt drawn towards- so very comfortable for me! So, I made a conscious effort ( eg. with other parents at school) to talk to the ones I wasn’t so naturally comfortable talking to. Well worth the effort- have made some fab friends from people who were just a little shy!
15 Sep 2006
There is nothing better than radiating the love of God by helping others. Banishing your own thoughts and moods and going out wanting to see other people’s lives brightened, enlightened and improved.
Normally it doesn’t even involve much effort, time or money and you can really make someone’s day, week or even a difference for life.
When I was younger I stood up for a girl who was being bullied… I didn’t really know her and didn’t speak to her much but then a few years later she told me that she had been suffering badly from bullying and was at a point of almost wanting to kill herself and she had never had anyone look at for like that and it made her reconsider doing it!
Who would have thought, spending 20 seconds in a situation and only saying something like… “Leave it out, what’s she ever done to you”.. could change someone’s life so radically…
07 Oct 2006
Please be careful of this as one of my friends gave a bed to a homeless person for the night (not very sensible I know but her motives were good) and he sexually abused her daughter. Be kind but keep yourself and your family safe!!
10 Oct 2006
I love talking to people and so will often say “hello” to people in passing. I helped a lady at at supermarket with her trolley the other day, she was having difficulty keeping it on the pavement in the car park because of the way it was loaded so I controlled the front of it whilst she directed me to her car! It only took a few seconds and she was thankful which made me feel glad I’d helped.
19 May 2007
A fellow freecycler is having some problems and couldn’t get it together to collect a long handled shoe horn for an arthritic relative, so I’m mailing it to her on Monday. Nicky H
16 Jun 2007
My hubby is a star! The other night he came home and said dont flip but iv just given some one 20 quid! Why? i say He explains he was driving past a bus stop and seen a guy with a bag full of belongings(just released from hospital) and he looked very vunerable. so off he went and drew a 20 out and went back and gave it to him. There are times when i have done similar (both me & hubby work with homless people so find it easy to spot some one vunerable or needy). Once many years ago i seen an old lady in her nighty wandering ar 7am on the roads,persuaded her to get in to car and dropped her of at police station. Iv also been at speedbanks when people have walked off and the money they ordered popped out! Lots of things like this, and i always try do the right thing, Things like this only seem to happen when i am really skint though!
16 Jun 2007
just another comment, sometimes you have to be a bit brave and push yourself to help others, as you are at risk of being rejected, its not all the time i can do this myself. Sometimes iv passed people in the street and iv thought i wish id smiled at them, it would have cost me nothing but the fear of someone not smiling or gesturing back,stops me. However if i think of the positive affect a smile has had on me when i am down i know i should overcome my stuff and smile at virtually everyone i pass in the street!
23 Aug 2007
We live in a multicultural road – very glad to. When people move in (whatever culture) we drop a welcome card in and get to meet them. We can say we have Muslim friends.
03 Jun 2008
I think I’m going to start listening to my MP3 player less when walking to and from work – I’ve found that everyone is now lose in their own little world, so we’re less prone to make those little social contacts – a smile, a hello – that make everyday life that little bit nicer.
03 Jun 2008
I think I’m going to start listening to my MP3 player less when walking to and from work – I’ve found that everyone is now lose in their own little world, so we’re less prone to make those little social contacts – a smile, a hello – that make everyday life that little bit nicer.