New people

I’m often struck by the thought that I’m surrounded by people I’ve never seen before when I’m traveling somewhere for the first time. Everywhere I look there’s someone I’ve never seen, heard of, or knew existed until that moment.

Each one of them is new to me, but they’ve been living their reality simultaneously to mine.

I see that person. But I’ll never get the chance to know him or her. After I walk away, he or she will continue on. Me acknowledging their life will likely be of no consequence.

That doesn’t change the fact that they’re someone’s brother or sister, dad or mom, uncle or aunt. They’re someone’s boss, roommate, neighbor, or doctor. Someone at that moment is thinking about them. Someone can’t wait to see them.

To someone, they’re a friend. To someone, they’re a hero. To someone, they’re the most important person in the world.

They have their own story. They have their own dreams. They have their own hurts.

Today could be the greatest day of their life. It could also be the hardest.

They’ve been living out their life long before I saw them or interacted with them. And they’ll continue to long after I walk away and forget about them.

There are billions of other people at this very moment — ones I’ll never meet — living their lives. Someone I’ll never meet is getting engaged. Someone else is getting married. And some unfortunate fellow I’ll never meet is getting his heart  broken by someone else I’ll never meet.

There are people all over the world living out their unique, personal story. Some you’ll meet, many you never will.

Don’t take it for granted when you meet one of them for the first time.