💬 Talk to strangers! What?????

We've been told not to for most of our lives but that is exactly what Pete Bombaci is telling us to do. In a world where we are so digitally connected, many of us are lonely and need social connection.

Check out my conversation with Pete: The Love Mondays Podcast - Pete Bombaci - Project GenWell

💡 Pete shared a story from 2003 where a massive power outage led to a street party. It was a huge insight for him. The neighbours did not know each other until they were forced to go outside because there was no power or internet. What about a world like today where many of us are on our phones all the time! Even walking across the street!

I love the work Pete is doing to help build social connections in our world. On campuses, in offices and in our communities.

He founded Project GenWell and is helping us address the loneliness epidemic. https://genwell.ca/

What can we do about it? Talk to people - initiate the conversation! Say hi, ask them what they are most excited about……connect.

Is it easy? No. It is much easier to stay on our phones and keep our airpods on but that doesn’t help us build our connections.

😀 So, today, smile at the person you are walking by, say hello to the neighbour, talk to the person in the seat beside you.

A couple of weeks ago I tried this at the U of T and I asked 1500 students to introduce themselves to their neighbour. The energy was electric!

Thanks to Joe Oswald for the re-introduction to Pete. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation!

🙏Continue doing great work Pete!

& to you my friend…..please talk to a stranger (not any stranger but those who you think can benefit from a connection). It takes all of us to initiate and build a more connected world.