December 10, 2025 │Jasmin │3 minute read

A few days ago, I went to the local park on a morning walk. I just wanted to breathe in some fresh air and move my body. I observed leaves falling onto the ground, summer’s bright greens, pinks, and blues slowly changing into autumn’s reds, oranges, yellows, and browns. Deer were roaming around, eating away the last greens of summer and preparing for a long winter ahead. The sun shone through trees in misty rays, painting a beautiful picture of light and shadows between tree stems and on the leafy ground underneath my feet. It was too beautiful not to stop during my walk and just stand still to admire this autumnal beauty. This was when I met her – a random kind stranger, following the same road I was but for the most part keeping her polite distance a few meters behind me. Closing the distance between us, she stopped and joined me as I observed deer munching on leaves and the sun shining through the treetops. We talked about this and that, and after a few minutes we parted ways again. I still have no idea what her name is or where she is from, but we shared a wonderful few moments together in the park.

This meeting might seem insignificant, but I felt a real human connection there. Earlier that week, I watched a video essay on human connections, interactions, and relationships. The bottom line was simple: Life happens outside of your home, away of your phone, and no matter how many Instagram stories you see and how many posts you like, a conversation with another human being will always give you more sense of connection than any screen will ever do. So, I set out to walk outside, no music in my ears, no phone in my hands, just looking at life around me – and bumped right into the arms of my lovely stranger.

So often in life, we might seek entertainment or relaxation from our screens yet after hours of scrolling, we feel neither relaxed nor lastingly entertained. We do not remember the video we watched 5 minutes ago; we do not know any more about the people around us than before, but we invested precious time of our lives – and for what?

So, the next time you feel bored and you don’t know what to do with your life, maybe just go outside and see what happens. Maybe you will meet your neighbour and just say hello to them. Maybe you will bump into a stranger and share a few brief words with them. Maybe that person will lastingly influence your life with some words of wisdom. Or maybe nothing happens. Maybe you will meet nobody. But you will have done something with your time. You will have moved your body, you will have breathed in fresh air, you may feel wind or rain on your skin, maybe you will see some plants or some wildlife. Maybe you will be able to admire the Christmas lights put up in your city or maybe you will simply feel some peace and quiet for the first time in …days? weeks? months? Who knows.

I have no idea what might happen on your walk, but I sure know that I still remember the stranger I met, the lovely things she told me about her past, and the connection I felt with a random person outside of the comfort of mindless scrolling on social media.

So let’s go outside more and see what awaits us.

With love,

hercalmandstablelife