I meet people all the time. I’m not alone in this. You do too. But, do we take the time to even pay attention? Today alone, I’ve probably had some type of exchange with at least twenty new-to-my-life people. And sadly enough (or not, depending on how things went), it may be the first and last time for some of them. I don’t want these exchanges, even the fleeting ones, to be all for naught. 

I’m making a choice to learn from strangers. Whether I end up enlightened or appalled, I'm at least going to pay attention enough to gain something. I'm determined to turn these random sentences uttered by baristas, grandfathers, shoppers, and anyone else I meet into something more useful. 

I bet you’d like to know where I intend on meeting these people. I live in South Jersey, which I enjoy for the most part. If I moved away from Jersey, you’d find me living on the southern coast of Maine. I'm a cold weather gal. I have a few jobs and as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a few jobs. Currently, I work in a public relations position, based in a retail setting, which provides opportunities to meet many, many, many strangers. I’m also the head of an editing and writing support company, The Writing Blueprint, and I am an adjunct professor. I like teaching college age students. The thought of teaching students who still eat paste makes me shudder. 

I may meet my strangers at one of these jobs. However, I'll be sure to be on stranger watch in my down time as well. I’m just as likely to meet interesting folks at a coffee shop, while hunting, in line at Wawa, at a yoga class, or at a used book shop. I think opportunities will probably present themselves at bars, waiting rooms, and the DMV. 

So, The Stranger I Met Today (and hopefully some bits of wisdom) is here. Hello world, it’s a new blog.