What I've learned from meeting strangers

Ever since September 12th, I picked up my bags and headed on an adventure of a lifetime.

I’ve walked down paths I never knew I was going to walk down.

Met people I never knew I would meet.

And experienced things I never knew I was going to feel.

6 weeks later, I find myself in the heart of Bali wanting to share with you what I’ve learned from my travels. More specially, I want to share with you what I’ve learned from meeting strangers.

There’s a good quote I read the other day, it read:

“You’re always a stranger because you change every day”

And I took a second to pause and understand what that meant. Because if that’s the case, then why do we view strangers as so separate from us?

Isn’t everyone a stranger until they’re not?

Your peers were once strangers to you.

Your friends were once strangers to you.

And I would take it as far as to say:

That your family were even once strangers to you.

It seems like we grow up to become an adult and do “adult” things.

We work, spend time with loved ones and if we’re lucky, get to do some traveling.

But rarely, do we ever go on adventures anymore.

Rarely do we ever embrace our inner child and do fun shit.

And if the last few years of self-improvement have taught me one thing, it’s to double down on the things that fill my cup.

The things that give me energy and ignite a mindset shift within me that “I get to do x” as opposed to “I have to do x”.

The thing that I do that no longer feels like work anymore.

And suddenly, I catch myself blurring the lines between work and play.

Now you’re probably wondering what that very thing is.

I’ve been wondering the same, oftentimes unable to pinpoint it.

I originally thought it was about traveling or having a sense of freedom.

But as much as those fill my cup, those don’t seem to be my true calling.

I wholeheartedly believe my calling is to bring people together.

To foster dynamic environments for serendipities and synergy amongst others.

And after meeting 12 different strangers over coffee, I couldn’t be more excited to continue that journey.

I’ve learned from strangers that they’re all friends of mind in the end.

Each stranger I’ve met, I’ve shared laughs with and surprisingly got to know relatively well, given our limited time together.

By them saying yes to a cup of coffee with a random person has taught me to never turn an interaction.

Because many times, it’s only within those interactions in which we find opportunity.

We find something in ourselves that we never knew existed.

Ultimately, you can never turn down someone knocking on your door because you never know where it can lead.

You truly are always one ___ away from magic.

From going to places you never thought, meeting people you never knew, and a sprinkle of serendipity at your doorstep.

So I’m going to continue my mission and I hope you can follow suit.

And if you don’t know what your calling is then dive deeper.

Do the inner work.

Pick up a notebook, or journal until you get clearer on who tf you are.

Ask yourself the questions you probably haven’t asked yourself before in a long time such as:

What would I pursue if money didn’t exist?

What have I always liked to do ever since I was a child?

Who would I become if I stopped caring what other people thought of me?

I haven’t figured everything out, matter of fact, I haven’t figured out most things.

However, one thing I have figured out is my IKIGAI (search it up if you don’t know what it is)

It’s my reason for being here.

And the mark I have to make.

So find yours and go all in with it.

Remember, you're not here because you need someone; you're here because someone may need you.

Do your part.

Make an impact.

It’ll feel so damn good that I promise you, you won’t wanna go back :)

Have a great week.

Much luv,

Jared