Something in common

I've been intrigued by how strangers meet each other in the street.

In modern day society with technology and our fast paced lives, there's often a good excuse not to talk to the stranger next to you. Sometimes though, you never know who you might meet just by saying hi as you stand in line waiting for your coffee and you don't know the difference you might just make.

On our street, my wife and I are the street contacts and we love knowing our neighbours. It makes our community feel so much more secure and we really appreciate where we live a lot more.

Now can you imagine if that was the case in larger communities? Perhaps the office building you work in? Perhaps the whole block? What if you got to know all the people that you see at the cafe where you get your lunch?

Just imagine what would happen to a city. The effect can really be seen in rural townships and everybody is always seem more friendly and welcoming when you go to those places.

In bringing strangers together, having something in common helps. The more significant and the more confident you are in that you have something in common with the other person, the easier it is. Take the rugby world cup and Christchurch earthquake as examples.

For that matter, take puppies for example too. You have in common the love for the puppy and it's something that's not uncertain. That's why everyone says it's a great way to meet people.

So the question is, how do we create something in common between strangers within a community to strengthen it?