In a conversation with a client last week, we spoke about the things we’ve become used to with the integration of the new normal in our lives.
With many countries experiencing varying degrees of restrictions, lockdowns and sheltering at home, we’ve become used to meeting people across geographies with ease using a virtual platform, much less travel and lots more time at home.
Our new reality also means that we’re missing something as well. We’re missing serendipity, those chance encounters. The moments of conversation with strangers (like on an aeroplane or taxi when travelling) or bumping into people we know when we’re out, without scheduling a call to speak or connecting with colleagues by the water cooler.
It made me think about how we can create moments of serendipity when our movement is restricted and we’re living in a world where most of our connections are happening virtually, mostly planned and scheduled.
I’ve had some ideas but I’d love to hear from you.
Have you had some moments of serendipity? I’d love to hear about those.
Here are some of mine:
- Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, to connect and ask how they are (without scheduling it). Just call.
- Send someone a surprise treat – like my husband coming home with a steaming cappuccino for me, just because he felt like it or me sending a sushi takeaway platter to my son who’s at university and studying for exams.
So, how can you create surprise interactions and connections when it’s not happening as a natural part of your day? What can you do to bring a smile to someone’s face?