Strangers In An Hour Glass!

May 5, 2008 at 6:43 pm (Friends, People, Philosophy of Life, Relationships) (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , )

I was in a behavioral training the last three Fridays. It was a mad house class with so many fun loving folks. It was interesting to realize how people perceive at the first instance and then with more time spent, their perceptions about the others change completely. We met just on three Fridays just for 8 hours a day - it was just amazing to see how well we got along with each other.

We had our share of fun in the class and our moments of being solemn. These moments of being solemn were not only out of respect when the other was sharing a dim moment of their life’s but also because there was a feeling to being able to feel what that person was feeling.

Sharing an incident where they lost someone or someone being able to help the other who was a complete stranger to them didn’t quite come easy to a lot of them. There were some that spoke about how their defining moments in their own life changed them forever, while some spoke about what inspired them in their life to be able to get where they were today. The air was full with every individual hearts being able to relate to that persons experience. There was this silence which spoke about how the others who were listening in rapt attention also felt what that individual was talking about.

Isn’t this absurd, before the training we all were strangers to each others. None knew who the other was. None knew anything about each other’s lives; yet we landed up sharing some of our most personal moments in front of everyone and derived comfort and encouragement from the others as well.

Strange but true that by the last session - there was not only celebration galore of being able to celebrate ones birthdays with a nice big white forest cake but also this thought - Strangers in your life will always come around to be able to teach you something. And if they have taught you something with their own personal incidents or made you think about something in your own life - Were They Really Strangers?

 

 

16 Comments

  1. SanityFound said,

    May 5, 2008 at 6:51 pm

    What I find lovely is the fact that everyone was open to learning from each other so often that is not the case, we shut off before we even allow someone to open their mouths. As for strangers… scenario.. a person stopped next to me on the side of the road and offered me a lift, I tell them fine I will take the lift if they allow me to drive… if they allow me then they are strangers… :D

  2. iz4u said,

    May 5, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    Great post !! This line :”It was interesting to realize how people perceive at the first instance and then with more time spent, their perceptions about the others change completely” - is so very true!!

  3. Nikhil said,

    May 6, 2008 at 1:56 am

    So, all in all, the class worked? :)
    Actually, we find it easier to unload our burden on to a stranger rather than someone we know… Sometimes, even I wish that I could just grab hold of some random guy on the street, make him sit down and tell him all my troubles… :D

  4. deepsm25 said,

    May 6, 2008 at 9:08 am

    Hey Aud,

    So true, if you really do have an open mind, your learning will never stop. Be it from strangers or through people whom you know and trust. You never know, who can come along and teach you the most valuable lesson of your life.

    If the Car is a BMW - then I rather take the keys and drive away :P

    Thanks IZ4U - for leaving your valuable comments on thoughts.

    Hey Nikhil,
    The class worked wonders for me. LOL - be careful about who you catch on the street - he just may land up telling and sharing his own burden off you. Ah Well, even that might be something to learn from. :)

  5. SanityFound said,

    May 6, 2008 at 10:25 am

    Yers well we were strangers once and now we are related just goes to show ;-)

  6. deepsm25 said,

    May 6, 2008 at 10:28 am

    Darn how can I be related to a Banana :P Naaaaa!!!!

  7. SanityFound said,

    May 6, 2008 at 10:40 am

    *bites her lip* *ahem* perhaps because you are a fruit salad…

  8. Nikhil said,

    May 6, 2008 at 11:05 am

    Maybe that’s true - i might just learn something… But one thing I dont wanna learn is how hard that guy/girl can slap! :D

  9. deepsm25 said,

    May 6, 2008 at 11:25 am

    Aud,

    I dont like too many fruits except strawberries and mangoes Yummmsss!!!

    Hey Nikhil,
    Don’t worry - body language also speaks a lot. By the time, they even raise their hand, you will be out of their sight :) Dunno, about the guy, but what if the gurl is pretty? ;) Think Harrrrd about it!!!

  10. susanhanshaw said,

    May 6, 2008 at 5:24 pm

    I’ve had those experiences too, where you gather with a group of strangers and everyone is all stiff and on their best behavior. Then when the opportunity presents itself to share our vulnerabilities and challenges, we realize that we are all connected in the bond of being human. I have found those gatherings to be the most satisfying times of connecting in my life because this is when we are real.

    I love your blog!

  11. innerarchitect said,

    May 7, 2008 at 1:43 pm

    This brings to mind one of my favorite quotes:

    “I do desire we become better strangers” William Shakespeare

    “Some of my best friends are strangers” Unknown

    I wish we could replace the word “stangers” with “unfamiliars.” Example: The stranger trudged into the diner half asleep. or The unfamiliar trudged into the diner half asleep.

    dean

  12. deepsm25 said,

    May 7, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    Hey Susan,

    Thanks for those encouraging comments and also Thank You for sending across those files to me. I am sure to read through them this weekend. its true that some times its the strangers that will touch your heart in the most defining way and by the time you realise it - they just may have gone away from your life.

    Would love to read through the review for the book. Do add me to the mailing list. Keep Visiting.

    Hey Dean,

    Those were some wonderful quotes indeed. I loved the last paragraph of changing the word strangers to Unfamiliar - it truly sounds better than referring them to strangers - though I would still prefer putting a stark individual name to the word “unfamilar” or “stranger”; after all a name is a unique identity!

  13. Amruta said,

    May 7, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    Hey Deppika,
    This is Shibs cuzin…btw really liked ur latest write up on strngers..To some extent i agree that sometimes one come across ppl one has nvr ever met bt somehow dey reallyy hit it off wel… its such a simple thought which has been conveyed well..n .. just their presence and time spent with dem n de lessons one learns during that time phase is just unbelievbale and as you rightly said” were they reealllyyy strangers..??

  14. deepsm25 said,

    May 8, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    Hey Amruta,

    Thanks for visiting and leaving your comments on my blog. Its true, some strange people in the most strangest of time will leave you will something to think and ponder about.

    Anyways, Stay Happy and Keep Visiting again.

  15. Nikhil said,

    May 9, 2008 at 8:49 am

    Well, I’ve thought long and hard… i think I’d allow the pretty girl to slap me and show her the other cheek and adopt gandhian principles.. she’ll be impressed and i’ll give a goofy smile and ask her out.. :D
    then she’ll get ready to kick me in the nuts and i’ll vamoose!! :D
    good plan, no?

  16. deepsm25 said,

    May 9, 2008 at 10:33 am

    haha LOL..then you are not following the Gandhian Principle dude - if you are gonna think of vaaamooossssing :P

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