we are strangers
People are strange and estranged.
Its weird how we can recall hundreds of people we know off the top of our heads and then add another batch by scrolling through our phone books and friend lists, yet there are only a handful of people we can legitimately say we know. The word know gets tossed around far too often that it’s meaning has been diluted. There’s a big difference from knowing someone and truly knowing someone.
Why are things like this? Maybe, people are asking the wrong questions. Maybe people arent asking questions at all. Maybe, its a pull between people being too guarded and people being too shy. I read a few years back from a friend’s blog that the question “how are you” is used every day, but without substance. How often do people ask that question and answer that question without genuine interest nor truth. Are we suppose to read in between the lines and just know? When a person replies they are “ok,” should we assume that they are unemployed and stressing about their future or how they are feeling lost. Or possibly, we have become too accustomed to the answer and accepted it. Even then, we can delve deeper into the question.
We never ask: “who are you?” I mean this in a introspective way. We need to start asking people who they are because we dont really know them. I have known my mom my whole life, but it wasnt until recently that I found out that the first person she loved wasnt my father, that she has never seen snow, that she wanted to go to school, but could never afford to.
Think about it. There are people we have in our lives that we have been acquainted with, have been friends with for years, but there are facets of their lives that are oblivious to us. If someone asks you to describe your friend, even one of your good friends, how would it sound? He likes football, hip hop, hanging out with friends, and playing games. Alright, so you just described to me a male from the age 5 to 99. Do you know their goals, their dreams, their ideas, their weaknesses, their strengths, their beliefs, their fears?
Do you know anything about them? We need to ask more questions, because we have too many strangers in our lives.
My name is Nelson, and I let too man opportunities slip away from me. I wan to be a teacher, but I fear I wont be any good. I dream that one day I will save the world. If I could eat only two things for the rest of my life, it would be ice cream and cereal.
