Conversations With a Stranger

Rise and fall...

“Do you often run away like this, from people just to come sit here?” The boy asked blowing his cover and startling the old man.

“Oh, young one, I see you followed me here. I am not running away from people, haha.” The old man replied without turning to look.

“Then why do you always come all the way up here?”

“Mmm, you see, when you get to my age, you’ll realize that life is made up of patterns.” The old man finally turned to look at the young lad who had been stalking him for a couple of days. “You live long enough and you’ll see that these patterns repeat themselves. Nothing is ever really new.”

“What do you mean, mister?” The boy asked, unable to hide his confusion.

“I’ve seen a lot of children like you grow and have their own children who in turn will grow and even have their own children. And so it continues, the same pattern, the same people. The endless cycle.” The old man replied, a smirk hanging at the corner of his lips.

“But people are different and unique, mister. Why do you think of them as all the same?”

“Oh well, we are all different. Doesn’t that make us all the same? If everyone is unique, then who really is? A lot of things you see happen today have happened before, and will most likely happen again. A lot of mistakes have been repeated in the exact fashion throughout history because we all share a lot of similarities as humans.”

“But—“

“You asked why I come out here every time to sit and look at the horizon? I see you have been stalking me for quite some time, haha!” The old man replied, bending to pick up a few flowers.

The atmosphere up there was magical. In the distance, you could hear the sound of leaves rustling in an almost uniform motion. There was no doubt the place was alive. The vibrant flowers swayed in the gentle breeze, and the slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky. The boy could feel it. This place was alive.

“I sometimes see you walk alone down this bushy path and I worry you might need some help or company…”

“Shhh, listen.”

“I can’t hear anything.” The boy replied, turning around, taking in the moment, trying to hear what the old man was hearing.

“You’re not listening. The birds are humming my favorite tune. Ah, look how the trees dance to the music! Young one, this is why I come here. Nature entertains me. I do not have to speak or respond or try to defend myself. I just listen. Eyes closed, heart open, surrounded by the elemental forces. Inhaling the calmness and exhaling the world. Rise and fall, rise and fall.

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From Delight:

‘Conversations With a Stranger’ is a new series I've just started to document the many inspiring and heartfelt conversations I’ve had with random people along my life's journey. The world is changing quickly and everything is going so fast. Now, more than ever, we’re realizing that nothing is permanent.

Some of our conversations with strangers have helped rekindle our dying flames at certain points in our lives, and what better way to immortalize those exchanges than write about them?

‘Conversations With a Stranger’ might or might not be published weekly like #MondayLetters but you should definitely expect it on a Wednesday like this. Hope you are well? Anything you’d like to share? You can always reach out.

Best,

Delight.