Sit With a Stranger
Sit With a Stranger is a national holiday that takes place on September 16th. Birthed only in 2020, we believe that it hasn’t yet gotten the hype it deserves! This unique and mission filled day should be shared, spread, amplified, and celebrated! Simply put, this holiday asks the public to observe the day by striking up a conversation with someone new. The aim of Sit With a Stranger is to bring people together one conversation at a time! Created by the team at BDOPE LLC, a bottled water brand that is creating a catalyst for hope, encouragement and connections, National Sit With A Stranger Day encourages people of all ages, race, gender to strike up a conversation with a stranger for the purpose of becoming less judgmental and more open-minded and understanding of others. “As we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, people are looking to get out and connect with people now more than ever,” said Rocky Wallace, musician and brand ambassador of BDOPE. “Sit With A Stranger Day encourages people to reach out to someone new, someone they do not know and have a conversation or to simply say hello to a stranger. A small gesture of asking someone how their day is going and showing genuine interest can change their day and leave a lingering impact that slowly changes the world, one conversation at a time.” The importance of this day is that it recognizes that everyone was once a stranger. Furthermore, it breaks the discomfort and stigma that surrounds the word “stranger,” and opens gateways for people to meet, connect, learn, grow, and accept each other. There is a great feeling of positivism, accomplishment, and belonging for two strangers who sit and strike up a conversation with no set agenda. Both people have the opportunity to gain so much from this experience such as: you can learn something you didn’t know, you can become more empathetic; you make a connection that may lead to something else in life; you experience a no judgment conversation which is exhilarating; you can transform someone else’s life, as well as your own; you learn to overcome fear; you spread kindness. We’ll leave you with this. Think about the best stranger you ever met. What has that encounter brought to your life? How are you different for it? How would you be different if you allowed for more of these encounters to shape your life? Within this reflection, we encourage you to join us in the celebration of Sit With a Stranger by taking kind action on September 16th to meet someone new, but not letting it end there! |