Do you know about those short-term connections that we create while on vacation? We never talk to them, we just see them at the breakfast, dinner, around the hotel or around the city.
These short-term communities form on their own, and we never see them coming.
It’s the people you always see at dinners during vacation. People that you travel with on the airplane or train. You wait with them at the airport, see them at the same duty-free shop, at the gate, or at the luggage pick-up. Then they leave. Maybe you smiled at them, talked a little – or maybe you didn’t talk at all.
However, you will never see them again.
On the sixth day, you’re already waiting for them at dinner. Their table is empty. Where are they? Are they ok? They left already? Oh no, there they are! Nice to see them again! (And, we definitely are that for other people, too!)
I love these unexpected connections. ✨
You meet these people in the middle of life. You never talk, you don’t give them your number. But you like them and sometimes you miss them. There is an unwritten sense of community that creates on its own. I think it’s beautiful.
Someone notices us every day, and we become part of their routine. They feel a sense of comfort when they see us again (!). At the gym. At the mall. Service assistants at the grocery stores. Some of these people stay for the long term; others, just a couple of days or hours. They give us sense of belonging.
So, to all the people we ever sat next to on the plane, talked about our national cuisine, talked about our life: We missed you a little bit after you left. I liked you. I liked talking to you. And maybe, had we had more time, we would be friends.
I will never forget the great discussion I had with that Mexican lady on the plane. She wrote her favourite recipe in my notebook and I wrote mine in her notebook. The older man who I met on the train to Sziget festival and he was reminiscing about his young years at this festival. I was his time machine and for a moment, he felt young again. He was smiling from ear to ear as he was describing his adventures. Or the granny on the bus. She was a gastroenterologic doctor and she gave me a lot of good medical advice. She was so sweet and absolutely loved talking to me. ❤️ She had 7 sisters and during a 9 hour travel to Prague she told me what each of these sisters did in their lives and who they married. 😀 It was so heart-warming. She described in details how she and her husband met. She told me about the prank the husband’s best friend did so he could get them together! 😀 And…. there were so many more of these people. All of them were smiling and happy to share their story.
There is this beauty in the connections that never had a chance to have problems or deal with every-day life that leaves so much room for the imagination. (as beautifully depicted in the movie Before sunrise)
We are unaware of being much more loved than we dare to think. Have you ever grown to like the people you only saw once and never met again?
Tell me your story in the comments!
Thank you for reading and let’s talk soon!
Zuzka