While we have become more socially connected by our phones and gadgets, we still sadly feel more isolated. We have created an invisible wall around us, keeping other humans a safe distance away. | OPINION by themaidastouch
When was the last time you initiated a conversation with a total stranger? For me, it is something I do almost every day. I have this gift for speaking and engaging total strangers in conversation. It is not an act or a job, but rather a curiosity and genuine interest in other people’s lives.
I sparked a conversation with her. Her name is Rosie, an Indonesian mother with two kids studying university in Indonesia. She’s been living in Melbourne for seven years. “I just work, work, work,” she said. I always make an effort to smile and say hello to the people around me, especially those working in hospitality, cleaners, or supermarkets. You don’t really know what people are going through. Perhaps, it is because I live alone in a foreign country. I know how loneliness feels.According to the Australian Loneliness Report in 2018, one in four Australians are lonely. One in two Australians feel lonely for at least one day in a week.