“Did I sit next to you on an airplane once?”

I almost fell off my bike, floored that a woman recognized me while driving down the street. This had never happened to me before, though based on the number of people I have met, I feel like it should happen all the time.

I am that person who talks to you from taxi to touch down, the one who tells their life story with the expectation of hearing yours in return.

I prefer to move past meaningless small talk as quickly as possible and really get to know someone personally.

Through sharing stories about myself in return for stories about the traveler sitting next to me, we mutually grow to trust and open up to one another.

I have sat with carpenters, businesspeople, grad students and more, and I have come to appreciate that each individual shows me exactly what I see when I look out an airplane window: a glimpse at what is really below the surface.

Learning all about someone isn’t limited to airplanes for me; I love learning people’s names, favorite songs and foods, funniest moments and more. Airplanes are one place where I like to bond with another person, but getting to know people while shopping at the supermarket, walking to class or at a restaurant is just as impactful.

When I form a connection with the people around me, I feel more comfortable with them.

I believe that by getting to know people around you better and becoming more comfortable with them, you will come to appreciate your own uniqueness as well. Talking about yourself and consciously reflecting on meaningful things you have done makes you think about why you are special.

Sharing stories and memories with others reminds me of my qualities I am proud of. By talking to others about what makes them special, I recognize all the things that make me one-of-a-kind.

The most important part of using storytelling as a mode of opening up to others is refraining from lying. By being dishonest with others when talking about yourself, you are in turn being dishonest with yourself.

The process of sharing stories can be meaningful, but it is worthless if the stories are not true to begin with. For me, factual stories are far more compelling than fictitious ones anyway.

I realize there is no way of knowing if the person I’m sharing my stories with is being truthful themselves, but I prefer to trust they are being honest. Telling the truth works best for me. Honestly.