So a Man Sat With Me

I had the most surreal experience today. I was sitting at a table by myself outside of the campus center when a man came up to me and asked if he could join me, or if I was waiting on anyone else. He was a young-looking guy with messy facial hair and a Nike t-shirt. I let him sit down with me.

His name was Shaun. He graduated from Arizona State six years ago and was visiting SoCal for the week. He asked me about my major, and what I was doing over spring break.

I found myself growing really wary. He was super calm and friendly, but why did he decide to sit with me? What was the catch?

I found myself slipping my leg through the straps of my backpack under the table, and pulling it closer to me. I grew increasingly paranoid and uncomfortable; what was he doing? It was incredibly strange, and I felt so vulnerable.

Then he mentioned he was part of a Christian group that was visiting campus, and that he was attending an event later that night in Troy Hall.

Oh, that's the catch, I thought, He's trying to recruit me.

Almost immediately, I began telling him how I was sorry, but I couldn't come. He looked at me funny. "Oh, I didn't mean that like..." he said, "But I mean if you wanted to come I'm sure you could."

And then I felt a bit guilty.

I suddenly realized how hard it is for me to trust people, or for anyone to trust anyone. Shaun and I talked for twenty more minutes. He gave me advice on my long-distance relationship, and some pointers on how to write letters. He told me about his wife and his life after college. I told him about my acting, and what classes I'm taking and how well I'm doing in school.

Shaun told me he wanted to sit with me because he was tired of seeing people sitting alone. He talked about how with our phones we've (ironically) forgotten how to communicate, and he thought I could use someone to talk to.

I eventually left to go to class, after saying goodbye, but I've been thinking about the encounter ever since.

We really have forgotten how to communicate, haven't we? I was so used to people approaching me solely to get me to buy something or join a group or do anything other than actually talk to them, that when someone actually did want to talk to me, I immediately distrusted him from the start.

Shaun was a genuinely awesome guy, and I wouldn't have met him if he hadn't approached me. Maybe if we all started to break the social norm of staying in our own little worlds, the big world might become a little better of a place.

Things I'm Stealing from today:
Not everyone wants to take advantage of you
The world is full of amazing people
It's okay to just talk to someone :)