Never Met a Stranger

Recently, I was sitting in Panera enjoying a bagel and a cup of coffee – (I’m fond of the sesame bagel, toasted with plain cream cheese). The place gets pretty crowded during lunch hour. I enjoy being around all the people – the energy from everyone is pretty cool.

So I’m sitting there, and two guys, one about 35 or so, and the other looked about 65; they knew each other, and were talking. I’d never seen either before. The younger guy looks over at me and says, ‘I think you’re the oldest guy here using a laptop’. I looked at him, grinning and said something like ‘yeah, not all of us old guys are afraid of technology’.

The three of us then began chatting. Talking about what they do for a living, about what they’d been doing that morning, how they knew each other, and how long they’ve known each other. It was a pleasant conversation. When they asked what I do, we began another conversation about the work I do and the types of problems people come to see me about.

Both guys were likable and we had a friendly conversation. Throughout our conversation I was thinking a couple things:1) how often I get into conversations with people I have never met, and 2) how have I known these souls and in what context in previous lifetimes?

Have you ever walked into a social situation where you didn't know anyone and eventually, you start a conversation with someone and you're immediately comfortable with that person? I think when we’re attracted to people, or when people are drawn to us, it is because we’ve known each other and had positive interactions together in previous lifetimes.

I think the reverse is also true - how we sometimes dislike a person on sight, before they've spoken a word or even made eye contact. Perhaps we have encountered this person in another lifetime and had negative interactions.

When I have a ‘chance encounter’ (although I really don’t think anything is chance) with someone I ask myself, ‘what’s my lesson here, what do I need to get from this’? Sometimes I think it’s just ‘relax dude, it’s all ok’.

So, what do you think? Do you believe you've lived before? Do you think the people you have surrounded yourself with were with you before? Have you ever connected with someone right away, like you'd known them all your life?