Tell me about a random conversation with a stranger that changed your life in some way

[Anonymous]

The example I think of in my own life pertains to my child in special education--a brief interaction with a stranger made me rethink my plans for my kid's future. How about you?

[Anonymous]

I spoke to someone who was in the same situation I was 8 years ago (leaving an extreme abuse relationship) and it made me realize how vastly both myself and my life had changed.

[Anonymous]

OP I think this is a fascinating question and will answer you later when I have more time.

In the meantime, can you be more specific with respect to your story? "an interaction with a stranger...changed my plan for my kid" is too vague to be very interesting.

[Anonymous]

I was a teenager waitressing for the summer and when asked by a customer, said I didn’t like the hick town I lived in. He replied “you have to make your own sunshine”. I don’t know if it steered me into any direction but I recall it struck me. I finished high school, left for university, then went to medical school and then research training at NIH. Now I am an accomplished clinician scientist and live in one of largest cities in the country.

[Anonymous]

Great thread topic, but too bad that you limited it to "a random conversation with a stranger".

[Anonymous]

A woman once said “never put your pu$$y with your pocketbook. They should be kept in separate rooms always”.

Always kept my money separate, never got financially entangled with men, and it’s always served me well.

[Anonymous]

OP why start your thread with something vague instead of actually writing out the random conversation you had?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP why start your thread with something vague instead of actually writing out the random conversation you had?

+1. You first, OP.

[Anonymous]

I was 23 in a mall in S. Florida, and a young boy approached me, dragging an even younger boy with him. He asked me if I could buy them something to eat. I was so shocked that a child asked, that I handled it terribly and said no. That was 22 years ago.

[Anonymous]

It wasn’t a conversation but an interaction. I was 17, a senior in high school and in Cairo, Egypt for Spring Break with my family. As we were walking out of the hotel one morning, a little girl, maybe 6 years old, wearing an often worn party dress, walked up to my little sister and very gently gestured for the can of coke my sister was drinking. Her eyes lit up as my sister handed it to her.

Cairo was my first trip to a third world country and opened my eyes to the US’s and my extreme privilege. The joy that young girl displayed to receive a half drunk can of coke changed my perspective profoundly. We all have our crosses to bear, but they aren’t really very heavy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was 23 in a mall in S. Florida, and a young boy approached me, dragging an even younger boy with him. He asked me if I could buy them something to eat. I was so shocked that a child asked, that I handled it terribly and said no. That was 22 years ago.

But did you change because of this? That's the question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was 23 in a mall in S. Florida, and a young boy approached me, dragging an even younger boy with him. He asked me if I could buy them something to eat. I was so shocked that a child asked, that I handled it terribly and said no. That was 22 years ago.

Why did you say no? No money with you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It wasn’t a conversation but an interaction. I was 17, a senior in high school and in Cairo, Egypt for Spring Break with my family. As we were walking out of the hotel one morning, a little girl, maybe 6 years old, wearing an often worn party dress, walked up to my little sister and very gently gestured for the can of coke my sister was drinking. Her eyes lit up as my sister handed it to her.

Cairo was my first trip to a third world country and opened my eyes to the US’s and my extreme privilege. The joy that young girl displayed to receive a half drunk can of coke changed my perspective profoundly. We all have our crosses to bear, but they aren’t really very heavy.

So I wrote about that in my college essays, went to the college of my dreams, met current spouse, now I’m a successful (fill in the blank). Yes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It wasn’t a conversation but an interaction. I was 17, a senior in high school and in Cairo, Egypt for Spring Break with my family. As we were walking out of the hotel one morning, a little girl, maybe 6 years old, wearing an often worn party dress, walked up to my little sister and very gently gestured for the can of coke my sister was drinking. Her eyes lit up as my sister handed it to her.

Cairo was my first trip to a third world country and opened my eyes to the US’s and my extreme privilege. The joy that young girl displayed to receive a half drunk can of coke changed my perspective profoundly. We all have our crosses to bear, but they aren’t really very heavy.

You little sister shouldn't drink coke in the morning.

[Anonymous]

"only beautiful people are successful.". So that prompted me to get a ton of plastic surgery and become beautiful.