I'm 27 and befriended an 81-year-old woman on the train. It made me rethink talking to strangers.
A 27-year-old woman shares her experience of befriending an 81-year-old stranger she met on an airport train. The encounter challenged her habit of avoiding social interaction with strangers and led to a genuine, ongoing friendship.
Why it matters
It highlights the potential for meaningful human connection in an increasingly isolated, digital-first society.
Becoming friends with an older woman at the airport showed me that unplanned conversations can create meaningful relationships. Molly Selin I never used to speak to strangers at the airport until an 81-year-old named Maria approached me. We instantly connected and now have dinner together every Monday at her apartment. My friendship with Maria showed me that meaningful relationships can arrive completely unannounced. When I was coming back home to New York after my first international work trip to Spain, I was exhausted, overstimulated, and ready to be back in the comfort of my own home. Boarding the AirTrain at John F. Kennedy International Airport, I had my AirPods in both ears and was doing what most 27-year-olds do at the airport: keeping my head down and staying in my own little world.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in