I’ve done a lot of traveling lately to places near, far and everywhere in between and with each new takeoff and landing I’ve been lucky enough to meet some pretty awesome people along the way. And while our interactions may have only been long enough to get us to our final destination, they managed to become conversations to remember.

Maybe it’s just that I’m the overly social person, who can strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere but I love the idea of making friends out of strangers. I love listening to the stories of these unfamiliar people and picking their brains about their past, present and future, while also taking a little life lesson for myself.

When I moved to New York City last summer, I remember the overwhelming feeling of walking through the airport terminal, with everything I owned strapped into a couple carry on bags, and feeling like I might collapse. I had no desire to talk to anyone on that plane ride to the East Coast because I was too terrified to even put basic sentences together, without the fear of tearing up. A beautiful stranger, who goes by the name of Tyler, took the seat across from me and I’ve never been more grateful for another person’s presence.

In the matter of a six hour flight, I went from wanting to land in New York City just to catch the next flight home to feeling like I could conquer the world. Maybe it was just his traveler’s mentality or the way he spoke with such enthusiasm in his voice about his past travels but I couldn’t help but to put all my fears to the side and want take on any risk sent my way. He made me realize that the best thing I could ever do is buy a ticket and go. Don’t think, don’t question and definitely don’t hesitate because there’s a whole world out there waiting to be seen.

This reason alone is why I love meeting new people. It’s like reading the first page of a brand new book and falling in love with the characters and the stories they have to tell but it’s ten times better because you become a new character in their tale, as well. You have this opportunity to listen the voice of someone you’ve never heard and as they speak with such excitement you quickly realize how important everyone’s story truly is.

I once had the chance to sit next to a lady, who opened up about things in her life that not only lit up her face with happiness but also brought tears to her eyes. She told me about the passing of her niece and what it was like to watch her final moments come to an end and as I listened to her story and watched as tears rolled down her face, I couldn’t help but to look at her as so much more than just a person I sat next to on a plane ride home. It was as if our souls decided to hug and hive-five each other because they knew how connected they had just become.

I’ve said it before and I know I’ll say it again but I love traveling. I love the art of arriving in new places and being granted the chance to meet new people. The kind of people who can leave their imprints in your heart forever and make you look at life through a new lens. And while their leaving their mark within you, you know that maybe you’ve changed their life just a little, too.

If I never get the chance to see them again or give that big hug, as we walk off the plane together, just know that I’ll always remember that time we danced around the clouds and the way our souls collided, as if they had always been friends. I wish them all the luck, in all that they do, and thank them for, not only being a storyteller but for listening to one and maybe one day we’ll have the chance to sit next to one another on that long plane ride home.