Talk to strangers

From my flight back

Doha Airport transit area

Do you talk to strangers on flights, buses, or trains?

I met a young man on my flight from Washington Dulles to Doha (while transiting to Singapore). I was sitting in the last row of the plane, and he was seated right in front of me. While we were standing up, waiting to disembark, I offered him a piece of gum, and that's how our conversation started.

Once we were in the transit area at Doha Airport, I went to find my gate for the next flight to Singapore, my final destination. He was nearby, looking for his passport and ticket. I showed him where to check his gate information. After that, he frantically searched for his phone in all the pockets of his backpack, pants, and jacket. Finally, he found it in his waist pouch. 🤷‍♀️

I told him the same thing had happened to another young man I met during my previous trip from New Zealand to Melbourne.

I suggested the same method for staying organized by always putting important items, like the phone and passport, in the same pocket each time. Whether it's in a backpack, waist pouch, jacket, or pants, consistency is key. Having too many compartments in a bag or too many pockets in a jacket can sometimes be confusing. That's why I always make sure to put everything back in the same place for easy retrieval.

My guess is, this is the biggest takeaway they got from interacting with me. Hopefully, they will be more organized and careful in the future.

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Since our next flights were 2 hours away, and mine was departing 10 minutes earlier than his, we found a place to sit and chat.

In my opinion, he is a great inspiration to many people. After meeting him, I see hope in the younger generations. He is very driven and determined, with a great mind that thinks deeply and creatively without overthinking. He sets a great example by taking action and walking the talk.

Action speaks louder than words

Societal norms and criticism did not affect him; he simply did everything within his ability and followed what he believed was right. I’m very honored to have met him, and I would be incredibly proud to have a son like him.

At the age of 21, he has already accomplished so much. From having suicidal thoughts and understanding life as a process of dying moment by moment at the age of 6, to voluntarily serving as a medic for fractured bones in a war at 14. From teaching himself to read despite dyslexia at the age of 6 to setting a strong example for his younger brother by improving and strengthening his body through karate and jiu-jitsu. From asking his wife’s parents for her hand after only two weeks of knowing her, to free-hand rock climbing to the top of a mountain in just four hours. Every story of his experience simply amazes me.

Wisdom does not come from age but from experience

Age does not guarantee anything because nobody knows when our time will be up

He inspired me to be braver and bolder in pursuing anything. Don’t be afraid of rejection, whether in a relationship or a job. You’ll never know the outcome until you propose or pitch.

Rejection doesn’t matter—it only shows that the other person isn't on the same page or that the job wasn’t the right fit for you. There's nothing to regret once you've given it a shot. The sooner you recognize the misalignment or disconnection, the quicker you can move on to the next chapter or new adventure.

If we view time as the most precious commodity in the world, we will never hesitate to confess to the person we love, pitch for the job we desire, travel to the place we dream of, learn the musical instrument we want, invent the idea in our mind, or write and share the article we envision.

The easiest thing to let go is regrets

Let’s end this post with a song from Enya - Only Time.

Have a wonderful weekend ahead, my Substackers family! 🙏😊🌻