• About Us
  • Blogs & Vlogs
  • Newsletters
  • The Purple Tent
  • Contact Us
  • Log In/Register
  • Patrons
Global Women Connected
  • Women’s Health
    • Puberty
    • Menstrual Cycle
    • Female Disorders
      • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
      • Endometriosis
      • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
      • Pelvic organ prolapse
      • Fibroids
      • Ovarian Cysts
      • Urinary Incontinence
    • Cancer
      • Symptoms
      • Preventation
      • Breast
      • Cervical
      • Ovarian
    • Menopause
  • Sex
    • Sex introduction
      • Sex Education Guide For Parents
      • Masturbation & Orgasms
      • Sex During & After Pregnancy
      • Sex In Older Age
      • Porn
    • Contraception
      • Condoms
      • Pill
      • Implant/injection
      • Patch/ring
      • IUD
      • Diaphragm/cap
      • Permanent
      • Natural
      • Emergency
      • Young adults
      • 40s and 50s
    • Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  • Pregnancy
    • Preconception Care
    • Tests During Pregnancy
    • Birth
    • Teenage Pregnancy
    • Ectopic Pregnancy
    • Miscarriages
    • Termination Of Pregnancy
    • Maternal Mortality
    • Cancer During Pregnancy
    • Value Of Female Children
  • Wellbeing
    • Energy Management
    • Exercise
    • Sleep
    • Burnout
    • Body Image
    • Eating Disorders
    • Plastic / Cosmetic Surgery

It could brighten up your day

Should we talk to strangers?

Author: Professor Joyce Harper

4 years ago 0
Share this:

Screen Shot 2016-08-12 at 12.49.56We always tell our children not to talk to strangers.  I think this is good advice for children but for adults – we can have a very impersonal and lonely environment if no one talks to each other.

I am currently in Australia and almost everyone I pass says hello.  It puts a smile on my face.  I think the world would be a much happier place if we adopted this in other countries.

According to Wiki How – starting a conversation with strangers ‘is the social equivalent of skydiving.  It’s fun and interesting, but risky’.   Hopefully the chance of meeting a rapist or murderer is very low, and maybe whether we say hello to them or not will not make any difference.

I have taught my kids to not go anywhere with someone who I have not given permission to – we use a codeword that the person must know.  But we go to many social events where we have conversations with strangers.  My kids often ask me ‘who was that?’ and I reply ‘I have never met them before’.

Networks of friends are important.  Some of my closest friends were strangers that I struck up a conversation with at a social event.  I am very glad I did.  I even teach my students about the importance of networking and friendships.

I know many people who do not even know their neighbours or people who work in the next office.  Knowing people you live or work in close proximity to can have many benefits.

What about talking to someone on your commute?  Do you ever talk to the person you sit next to on a train or plane?  Do you even smile at them?  A study published in 2014 from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that even though people think that talking to a stranger during their commute will be a negative experience, they actually report greater wellbeing after doing so.

“This misunderstanding is particularly unfortunate for a person’s wellbeing given that commuting is consistently reported to be one of the least pleasant experiences in the average person’s day,” said study researcher Nicholas Epley, a Professor at the University of Chicago. “This experiment suggests that a surprising antidote for an otherwise unpleasant experience could be sitting very close by.”

Do you talk to strangers?  Should we say ‘hello, how are you?’ to more people?

Read More:

Global women – do you like networking

Image credit:  www.news.com.au

 

 

0 0
Previous Post

Why do you wear makeup?

Next Post

Have you had your thyroid checked?

Cancel Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Menopause and your menstrual cycle

2 years ago 0
From puberty to the menopause, most of our lives will be governed by our monthly cycles of periods, ovulation and often premenstrual tension. After the menopause we are free of our menstrual...

Urinary incontinence in women – do not suffer in...

2 years ago 0
Urinary incontinence is the accidental leakage of urine. It affects up to 1 in 3 women at some point in their lives, although it is more common after the menopause due to lack of oestrogen,...
  • Recent
  • Popular
  • Comments

Knowing Your Body; Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle And Fertile Window

6 days ago 0

Vision boards for 2021

3 weeks ago 0

Mental health during lockdown

2 months ago 0

Exercise during lockdown?

2 months ago 0

Food and drink during lockdown – under control?

2 months ago 0

What is in a tampon?

5 years ago 6

Sometimes I get lonely…

5 years ago 6

Do not believe everything you read

5 years ago 6

The Babypod

5 years ago 5

How many women breast feed?

5 years ago 4

Newsletter Sign-up

Twitter Feed

  • Listen to @timspector and Caroline Ovadia talk about how your #microbiome can affect your own health and your baby'… https://t.co/hmtdlxMpjh
    April 25th, 2018
  • Join @DrAndyChilds and @davide_danovi to talk about #eggs, #infertility and #stemcells at @pintofscience and be in… https://t.co/GoNIIc2EVz
    April 19th, 2018
  • RT @DrHelenONeill: More communication between clinicians and scientists is essential in this #genomic era. Thanks for the invite to be inte…
    March 15th, 2018

Instagram Feed

Load More…Follow on Instagram

Disclaimer

On all of our platforms, Global Women Connected does not provide professional medical advice. For any health issues, please contact your health care provider. All comments and discussions are provided by any person registered with Global Women Connected. Global Women Connected does not accept responsibility for any advice given and the advice given may not be the views of the staff of Global Women Connected.
© Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.