Bus Stop Therapy
Do you ever find yourself having personal conversations with complete strangers? For some unknown reason, it happens to me all the time, with the most recent episode occurring yesterday at the bus stop.
The conversation started out innocently enough, when a lady (also waiting for a bus) commented on my shoes…
“Those are cute. Bet your feet are cold, though.”
“Yeah, a little bit, but they’re comfortable.”
[Pause]
“So what’s your major?”
“English and psychology, but I plan on getting a masters in nutrition after I graduate.”
“That’s good—you have a plan. That’s where I went wrong. I didn’t have a plan.”
Soon enough, she was telling me about her struggles with unemployment, her depression that ensued her father’s death, and even what she was doing when she got word of the September 11th attacks.
Whoa. How long have I known you?
The conversation ended when my bus arrived, at which point I was a little stupefied by what had just happened. Some people just want to have a little share-time, I guess. I don’t mind listening and giving a little feedback though—I guess that’s the wannabe therapist in me:)
Have you ever had a similar experience?
Aside from conducting amateur therapy sessions, I’ve also been doing something I am qualified to do: eat.
Thanks to a fire alarm incident at the gym this morning, I had approximate ZERO minutes for breakfast. Hence, the toast with almond/pumpkin butters.
After giving an anxiety-inducing presentation this morning, I settled down with a big hummus platter for lunch. I’m running low on PB (gasp!), so I tweaked the Peanut Sesame hummus recipe with some cashew butter. Still just as tasty.
Once my day of classes finally came to an end, I cobbled together a simple bean salad with Goddess dressing. FYI Pink Lady apples are pretty much the shizzz.
Now I am off to chillax, my friends. Toodles.
Filed under: Meals
Hello and welcome! I have created this blog for people who love food, especially healthful, vegetarian food.
I have just graduated from Duke University with degrees in English and psychology. I plan to pursue a master's degree in nutrition starting in Fall 2010. Ideally, I would like to combine my love of food and the written word someday as a health writer.
I do sometimes have personal conversations with strangers! I think it’s the most interesting thing ever, to talk so intimately with someone you’re pretty sure you’ll never see again. For me, it’s usually in the airplanes.
Haha whoa…overshare. It reminded me of Forest Gump
I’ve never tried a pink lady apple!
have fun chillaxin!
haha Whoa- this lady just unloaded on you huh? I genuinely love rando- convos with people but that is a little too much information for the bus stop. Great job being an open ear though! I am sure this lady appreciated the relief of stress she must have felt by sharing her struggles.
i have approximately zero minutes for everything these days- ick. cant wait for spring break!
hey caroline,
i read your blog pretty often but I’ve never commented before. I have a quick question though. What types of snacks do you eat during the day? If you eat snacks that is? Just curious. We eat in a pretty similar way…heavy on the veggies, fruits, and whole grains…so I’d love to hear some of your favorite snacks.
i loveeeeeeee pink lady apples!!! so crisp and perfectly sweet.
funny story! strangers usually pour their hearts to me too! i think we must be good listeners
I used to refuse to talk to strangers, but recent years I’ve learned to enjoy it… it’s a good way to know other people’s life, to gain other perspectives!
I’ve definitely had some similar experiences, where I felt as if I should have been counseling the person…but I think a lot of people are just searching for that one listening ear who’s willing to listen. I’ll bet you made that lady’s day.
Your “simple” breakfast actually looks really yummy! I haven’t had cottage cheese in forever!
I never usually get into random conversations with strangers. Maybe I look unapproachable? My Dad, on the other hand, can make friends with anyone at any minute. I wish I could! I’m sure some people have pretty interesting stuff to say.
I have had random conversations with strangers too – some people just have a face that they want to open up to…
Pink lady apples are my second favorite after honeycrisp.
yes! that does happen quite often, usually htose people have no one to talk to and they are so vulneable they will talk to anyone who will listen! I am sure she appreciated you being her fill in therapist for 10 minutes
the peanut sesame hummus looks so good!!
I love random conversations with strangers. Through agree…sometimes it’s just TMI. I figure they are lonely and just want to chat
You just reminded me that I have an unopened jar of pumpkin butter in my cupboard!
I hate to say it, but I’m not particularly receptive to unsolicited oversharing. Makes me uncomfortable and sketched out! That’s probably New York talking too, though. None of us are as friendly and open as we should be round these parts. :-/
Hey caroline, been following your blog for a while now, just thought i’d say hi. Hi!!
Love reading about your daily antics. Had cottage cheese for the first time in years today – so glad to have rediscovered it. And I love me some apples too – although I’m a gala kind a girl! xx
That’s funny you should mention it.. the other day some random girl started talking to me about the parking lot being crowded! LOL
I have had that experience so many times! Im a super talkative person, and i love meeting new people so somehow i always end up talking to the most random people about different things.
That’s so funny! I sometimes have random conversations with people at the grocery store (“You should really try this hummus!”) and once had a really creepy conversation with a man on a Greyhound bus,..
hahaha awkward situations like that are always so funny when you think about them after they happen. you’re just like uuuuuh what just happened…
atleast you have a new friend right!?
Cashew sesame hummus does have a nice ring to it!
And yes, I have these random stranger conversations alllll the time too! I take the metro a lot so it’s just natural that you encounter a lotta people who just want to share, but it helps me remember how great it is that there are so many different kinds of people in the world. If left be, I would be content to sit silent for eternity, but it is nice when people feel like they need to talk to you – and I need these people or I would be a crazy mute introvert!! And it’s fun that different people you meet on the metro bring out different parts of you, you know?
Funny though, that lady you met really needed to tell her story! Wow. That’s a lot of info for such a short conversation.