🧠Don’t talk to strangers | #58
If you don't want to grow
Hello 👋 Pranav here
Every Friday, I share my process, my thoughts, stories and ideas from books, the internet and life and some weekly recommendations.
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Did your parents tell you not to talk to strangers?
While growing up, I changed a lot of schools and places. My father being in a government job, we moved to a lot of places. So when I moved to a new place, to make friends, I needed to go to a stranger and introduce myself. I interacted with a lot of people and learnt a lot about them and about different cultures. That was a great experience.
In 2020, when the lockdown happened, I became active on Twitter. I realised there are a lot of amazing people here to whom I can DM and make friends and talk. I made friends from Delhi, Agra, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Mumbai, etc, sitting in Pune. I learnt a lot from them and from various different fields. I love conversations with people and learning new things.
When the world started opening up after the corona lockdown, I used to go out and start talking to a stranger about anything. It can be asking them a question about what they did or taking an opinion about something, anything. It was just starting a conversation. It helped me a lot.
I learnt about their fields. I recently met a retired Air Force officer. He was in his 60s. It just started with me asking him his name and what he did. We spoke for 15-20 minutes in the metro.
I was reading a newsletter by Sahil Bloom where he shared 8 rules that are worth breaking. One rule he says to break is, ‘Don’t talk to Strangers’.
He says,
This is a classic we are told as children—the residue of which carries into adulthood for far too many.
"There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met." - William Butler Yeats
When we open up to those around us, we stimulate, learn, and grow.
I've learned more from a conversation with an Uber driver than from the Fortune 500 CEO I was on my way to see.
Knowledge and wisdom know no bounds. Open up to everyone and you'll be shocked at the light (and luck!) you let into your life.
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So, when you go out and have some free time, walk up to a stranger and ask his name and what he/she does. What interesting projects they have worked on, etc.
Here is a blog by Prado where he wrote a collection of questions he often asks others and himself. If you don’t have questions, refer to his blog
Also, just email me or DM me on Twitter. I am up for a conversation at any time.
Self-plugin
I made a video about my favourite newsletters and blogs I read in 2022
I’ll be uploading a podcast I recorded with Dr Sid Warrier today at 7:30 pm. Stay tuned!
Weekly Recommendations
You can see all my previous weekly recommendations here: weeklyrecommendations.super.site
Watch
Why MBA is not worth it? Here is Pratham explaining his Master’s Union
How Odisha is the SPORTS capital of India
Podcast
Here is Simon Sinek’s (author of Start with Why) advice for young people
Read
Twitter Thread
Announcement
I am working on an amazing project to study people’s minds. Will share it in the next newsletter.
Lastly, if you have any suggestions or feedback you can comment or DM me. I am open to your feedback about the newsletter
In this together,
Pranav ✌️
To ask me or tell me anything, you can always write to me by emailing or DMing me on my social media. I love reading all your emails and DMs.
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