One Thing I Missed Most About the City: Talking to Strangers

Coming Back Home

Hi friends! It’s been another hectic month that went by so fast I barely had time to stop and think, let alone sit down and write. Through all the chaos of settling back into Toronto, one thing keeps standing out: I’ve started talking to strangers again. These small, everyday interactions, like a smile or a quick chat, are what truly brighten your day and build community. Genuine connection matters more than we realize. Some days it really does feel like it’s you against the world, and yet one small moment, a smile, a quick chat, a shared laugh, reminds you that you’re surrounded by people who can lift you without even knowing your name. What I’ve learned is simple: be yourself. Strangers meet you exactly where you are, and the best conversations happen when you’re grounded, open, and not trying to impress anyone. These small, surprising moments of connection have the power to transform your mood, your day, and sometimes even your direction.

The Excitement of Meeting New Faces

When I worked at Walt Disney World, I was constantly surrounded by people, fellow Canadians, full-time cast members, and the 20,000+ residents living in our housing complex. Meeting new faces was fun, but I also saw the same people every single day: at work, while walking Moose, and even on my days off at the parks. It reached a point where everything felt predictable. We had the same routines, took the same buses, and walked the same routes. As magical as Disney is, it has also become a bubble. That’s why walking through Toronto feels so refreshing. You never know where anyone is going or what they’re carrying, which makes each encounter more meaningful. Everyone is on their own unique path. Those unfiltered, unplanned interactions, just me, Moose, and whoever we cross paths with, feel open, freeing, and grounding in a way I didn’t always experience inside the Disney routine. Moose naturally pulls me out of my head and into the world. He’s introduced me to neighbours I never would have approached, and he even “matched” me with the girl who owns the dachshund he became obsessed with. On our walks, we meet people of all ages, backgrounds, and personalities. I joke that I’m teaching him to have an open mind, but the truth is he’s teaching me.

I’m not always the one to start conversations, but when I’m grounded and confident, my energy speaks first. That part of me comes from my mom, the ultimate conversationalist. Growing up, she talked to everyone. She once invited a homeless man outside our grocery store to Christmas dinner. She collects business cards the way some people collect fridge magnets. And she taught me something I’ve carried with me my entire life: you never regret a single conversation with a stranger. Some stay with you for years, and some become unforgettable stories, like the time she and I talked to a man holding a door at an OnRoute for ten minutes, which ended with him adding us on LinkedIn and us laughing about who he was actually interested in. One habit she passed on to me is giving one genuine compliment a day. It’s simple but powerful because it can open doors you didn’t even know were closed, encouraging more meaningful interactions with strangers.

A Kindness I’ll Never Forget

A recent interaction inspired this blog. A few weeks ago, my phone was stolen right off the street while I was walking Moose. Ironically, the day had started great; I’d met a sweet girl at Starbucks, and of course, I instantly lost her number the second my phone disappeared. I tried not to let it ruin my day. I bought a new phone and kept going. Later that evening, the new phone rang. A man told me he had retrieved my stolen phone. I didn’t believe him at first, but then he explained that he had bought it from the guy who stole it for five dollars so he could return it to me. Something in his voice felt sincere. We met the next day in a public place, and he handed me my phone. I reimbursed him and thanked him properly with a simple conversation. That moment reminded me that good people still exist, not just the ones with titles or polished lives, but everyday people who choose kindness when they gain nothing from it. His gesture didn’t just return my phone; it restored a part of my faith in the world.

Finding My Spark Again

Working at Disney meant being surrounded by bubbly, outgoing people every single day. That environment became part of who I am. Moving back to Toronto, where that kind of energy feels a lot rarer, made me realize how important it was for me to keep shining, even if the city isn’t always loud or enthusiastic in the same way. Returning to my retail job at the Eaton Centre helped me find that spark again. My coworkers immediately picked up on my warmth and enthusiasm, and when they learned I had worked at Disney, everything suddenly clicked for them. I even taught them the “Mickey Mouse point,” the polite two-finger gesture cast members use to show cultural respect. Sharing those small pieces of Disney magic made me realize just how much I’ve grown.

Even the tiniest interactions remind me why kindness matters. A girl walked into the store recently and remembered me from weeks earlier, and the way her face lit up felt like reconnecting with an old friend. Moments like that remind me that the spark I bring into the world isn’t accidental; it’s intentional, it’s real, and it’s something I’m genuinely proud of.

Choosing to Look Up From My Phone

One simple habit I’ve started since moving back is keeping my head up when I walk. It sounds so small, but once you notice how many people are glued to their screens, you realize how much magic they’re missing: a smile from a stranger, a quick hello, someone giggling at Moose in his blue winter coat. Keeping my head up isn’t just about awareness; it’s about choosing presence. When you break out of autopilot, even familiar routines start to feel new again. New faces, new conversations, and new energies appear everywhere. Talking to strangers brings me back to myself, my confidence, my spark, and my openness. It reminds me that the world becomes softer, kinder, and more exciting when you allow room for it.

Why Talking to Strangers Matters

If this past year has taught me anything, it’s that connection is everywhere; you just have to look up to see it. Talking to strangers breaks routine, introduces you to new perspectives, and reawakens parts of yourself you sometimes forget about. It shows you that the world is bigger, kinder, and more surprising than your daily grind lets you believe. So the next time you’re walking to work, grabbing coffee, or taking your dog out, try something small: lift your eyes, smile at someone, give a compliment, or say hello. You never know which moment, kindness, or spark is waiting just one conversation away.