{"id":113137,"date":"2018-12-07T12:29:07","date_gmt":"2018-12-07T17:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/?p=113137\/"},"modified":"2018-12-07T12:29:07","modified_gmt":"2018-12-07T17:29:07","slug":"benefits-talking-strangers-travel-wanderlust-passport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/pt-pt\/journal\/benefits-talking-strangers-travel-wanderlust-passport\/","title":{"rendered":"Friends You Haven’t Met Yet: The Benefits of Talking to Strangers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meet far-flung friends around the world by joining the international Wanderlust community! For little more than a traditional festival ticket, buy a Passport<\/a> and attend 60+ events in 20+ cities all across the globe. Because talking to strangers is the beginning of building a mindful family\u2014anywhere you go. Passport on-sale now<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Picture this: You\u2019re sitting quietly in your favorite coffee shop sipping on a latte, and a strange woman approaches you, wanting to have a conversation. Do you invite her to sit? Or do you make a swift exit?<\/p>\n

Every day, we go through the motions with our heads buried in our smartphones, often unaware and disengaged with the tangible reality around us. We don\u2019t hesitate to comment on posted photos of people we have never met, yet we walk down busy streets and spend time in public venues, rarely pausing to say hello to anyone who falls into the \u201cstranger\u201d category.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been strongly advised since our inception to avoid strangers. Most parents adamantly warned us against so-called stranger danger<\/em>:\u00a0<\/em>Steer clear of the unknown. Stay close to those you know best, people you\u2019re confident won\u2019t hurt you.<\/p>\n

Let’s be real\u2014there’s some benefit to that… It’s not a great idea to walk down a dark alley alone late at night, or put yourself in a precarious situation. However, unfamiliar people have their own unique wealth of knowledge and experience to bring to the table that just might change your perspective on things, with the power to influence your worldview in a positive way, but only if you\u2019ll let them. A great way to tap into these treasure troves of the unknown? Travel the world.<\/p>\n

Solo travelers are not alone.<\/h3>\n

The number of millennials, women in particular, who are eager to travel solo is on the rise. According to Resonance Consultancy’s latest Future of U.S.\u00a0Millennial Travel\u00a0report<\/a>, 25 percent of American millennials\u00a0polled in the study said that they\u00a0plan\u00a0to take a\u00a0trip\u00a0on their own in the next 12 to 24 months.<\/p>\n

Why are we craving solo travel now more than ever? There\u2019s something to be said for a travel experience that only you as an individual can embrace and hold sacred forever. An opportunity to self-reflect, escape all of the chaos, cut through the noise, and be still with your own thoughts. To explore the world through a raw, unbiased lens with no judgment. A chance to plan an itinerary that aligns only with your personal wants and needs, without accommodating others.<\/p>\n

Last month, I set out on a cross country road trip from the East to West coast to embark on a research project, Wandering West, to uncover and aggregate authentic life lessons from everyday Americans. In each city, I\u2019m interviewing people I encounter along the way (to eventually be compiled into a documentary) in order to better understand and share their wisdom on life. Along the way, I’m exploring what creates happiness, with the ultimate goal to inspire hope.<\/p>\n

What I\u2019ve found most intriguing\u2014and perhaps most unexpected\u2014is the typically negative reaction I\u2019ve gotten from my unsolicited request for an interview. We\u2019ve become so skeptical of strangers inviting us in for conversation, that we naturally shy away from mystery.<\/p>\n

But what happens when we say yes<\/a> to outsiders when we travel to foreign destinations? We open our minds and hearts, with an opportunity to reap great rewards.\u00a0Here are a few benefits of breaking the “stranger danger rule,” and how talking to random people you cross paths with in your travels can transform your potentially clich\u00e9 itinerary into an unforgettable life experience.<\/p>\n