Capture Kindness
New York City doesn’t have a friendliness problem as much as a communication problem. On the subway, the smart money is to pretend you’re alone. Don’t smile at strangers. Don’t make eye contact. No one else exists. A cold commute, but maybe it’s also why millions of strangers from pretty much every country on earth are able to ride belly to belly in a metal tube every day.
There’s one day I remember vividly—this guy weeping on the subway, trying to suppress heartbreaking wails. I almost made a move toward him a couple of times, but I didn’t. He got off the train as I debated with myself, but I just couldn’t break the code of silence and stoicism. I sat there as another human being wept openly next to me. I sat like I was home alone watching Wheel of Fortune reruns. I could cry just thinking about it. But instead, I’m ramped up to make a difference.
