What is one small, positive interaction you've had with a stranger? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 4 days ago by sangeteria@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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The other day, I was on a crowded bus for an intercity commute, and was sat beside someone who was reading. So I got my book out and started reading as well. At the end of the trip I asked her what she was reading and what it was about, and added the associated series to my reading list. I also told her about my book. We parted ways and it made my day a little brighter. Does anyone have any similar stories of brief good encounters with other people?

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[-] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago

I do call center work. I routinely get complements on how I speak. Some of it is the typical “oh thank god, a white man speaking English” crap but there’s also the “you sound like you should be on radio. You’re so expressive and easy to understand.”

I’m not trusting this input. It’s suspect.

[-] sangeteria@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago

I'm sure you get a lot of speaking and inflection practice from your work, maybe think of it as a skill you've gained instead of natural talent!

[-] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

This is a recent job I’ve only had a year. I did theatre stuff in college and speech and debate back in high school though. I’ve taught old people How to use Linux as a side gig for years too (they hate windows and apple is too expensive so I had to teach them alternatives)

I just kind of accumulated those skills over the years to clearly explain difficult things to people.

I will say the speech and debate thing was the most beneficial. I was objectively the worst on my team, never placed in a round once. But it does help you reframe your confidence in useful ways when you need to. Public speaking is a cakewalk for me now.

this post was submitted on 31 Jan 2026

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