Introducing A New Holiday

In July, Seth asked the age old questions - So, what should we do on your birthday? My answer is usually pretty simple – go for drinks. But his was a little different.

With all due respect to Hallmark, the idea of sending people cards and presents on their birthday seems both selfish and small-minded. It seems to me that we could think bigger.

On your birthday, what should your friends do? Let’s say you have a shoe buying fetish. Perhaps on your birthday, your friends could buy shoes–for themselves, not for you. Share the joy, right? Or perhaps buy shoes for their friends?

It’s my birthday. So, I am proclaiming today International Talk To A Stranger Day. What do you have to do? It’s pretty simple. Just go up and talk to a complete stranger and have a conversation. Ask them where they got their cool kicks. What they think about the weather. If they’re into Mad Men. Whatever. Just talk to someone that you haven’t met before.

Everyone out there possesses a new perspective on life. People have interesting stories that you wouldn’t have considered yourself. But it’s human nature for us to remain comfortable in our current social circle. To exchange opinions with people that have similar points of view as us. So go out and talk to someone new and get inspired.

On a side note, it was a neck-and-neck tie between Talk To A Stranger and Eat A Peanut Butter Cookie. So, if you don’t talk to a stranger for my birthday, the least you can do is eat a peanut butter cookie.

- Christian