Find The Others

“Admit it. You aren’t like them. You’re not even close. You may occasionally dress yourself up as one of them, watch the same mindless television shows as they do, maybe even eat the same fast food sometimes.

But it seems that the more you try to fit in, the more you feel like an outsider, watching the “normal people” as they go about their automatic existences.

For every time you say club passwords like “Have a nice day” and “Weather’s awful today, eh?”, you yearn inside to say forbidden things like “Tell me something that makes you cry” or “What do you think deja vu is for?”.

Face it, you even want to talk to that girl in the elevator. But what if that girl in the elevator (and the balding man who walks past your cubicle at work) are thinking the same thing?

Who knows what you might learn from taking a chance on a conversation with a stranger?
Everyone carries a piece of the puzzle.
Nobody comes into your life by mere coincidence.
Trust your instincts.
Do the unexpected.
Find the others…”

― Timothy Leary

25 Comments

  1. Any Element March 28, 2025

    There can be people like ourselves we just need to look for them

    1. Hannes van Eeden April 3, 2025

      Absolutely, it’s all about finding the right connections. There are so many people who share similar values or experiences, sometimes we just have to take the time to seek them out. It’s amazing how much we can learn from those who resonate with us on a deeper level.
      Have you found any surprising connections along the way that have really stood out to you?

  2. Redavons March 28, 2025

    It’s the quiet ones that often have the most worthwhile things to say.

    1. Hannes van Eeden April 3, 2025

      I completely agree. The quiet ones often have the most profound things to say. They tend to observe deeply and speak only when they feel it truly matters, which makes their words carry more weight. I think there’s a certain power in that kind of quiet wisdom.

  3. earnestlydebra March 28, 2025

    I like this a lot. Someone once told me that if you’re cast as the “weird one” then anyone feeling weird will know where to go.

    1. Hannes van Eeden April 3, 2025

      That’s such a powerful way to look at it. Being the ‘weird one’ often means stepping outside the usual expectations, but in doing so, you create a space where others who feel the same way can be themselves without fear of judgment. It’s almost like giving people the freedom to embrace their own quirks. True connection comes from being genuine, not from fitting a certain mould.

  4. Jennifer 💦👣🔥❤️ March 28, 2025

    💯

  5. Dana at Regular Girl Devos March 28, 2025

    Excellent advice!

    1. Hannes van Eeden April 3, 2025

      It’s quite good! He knew what he was talking about.

  6. amberleapage32 March 31, 2025

    Amen! Yes, go talk to that person! Ask the weird questions! Listen to the lessons someone else has to give – even if you have learned the same one! Everyone in our lives came into it for a reason and it is not for us to figure that part out. It is for us to love and learn while we have the chance to do so. So yes by all means go do the thing, say the words that need saying, smile at strangers, say the club passwords but mean them when you do. Be authentic, genuine and real. The world is full of fake things – be something real! Good job on this post. Thank you for sharing these thoughts.

    1. Hannes van Eeden April 3, 2025

      I love the energy in this! There’s something powerful about stepping into moments fully and being curious, open, and real. Every interaction has the potential to shape us, even if we’ve heard the lesson before. And you’re right, the world doesn’t need more surface-level exchanges; it needs people who show up as their true selves.

      1. amberleapage32 April 3, 2025

        amen and amen.

  7. Vinayak Kumar April 4, 2025

    Excellent advice bro 😄👍

    1. Hannes van Eeden April 8, 2025

      I’m glad you resonated with it!

      1. Vinayak Kumar April 9, 2025

        😁

  8. The Voice and Eye of Bhambatha April 8, 2025

    Funny enough, just yesterday on my way home from town, I bumped into someone I barely knew—just a familiar face I might’ve seen once or twice before.

    To my surprise, he welcomed me with such warmth and enthusiasm! From the very first greeting to the deep and unexpected conversation that followed, it genuinely felt like we had known each other for years, with a shared understanding of each other’s journeys.

    What I thought would be a slightly awkward 20-minute walk turned out to be one of the most refreshing and meaningful encounters I’ve had since the start of the year.

    1. Hannes van Eeden April 8, 2025

      That is exactly it! That’s what finding the others is all about. We’re more similar than we think, just going about our daily motions. Thank you for sharing this story about the pleasant encounter you had. Would you agree that it sparks something within you to be more open to similar interactions?

  9. Tak Hiemstra April 11, 2025

    Yes Hannes, you’re absolutely right!!

    1. Hannes van Eeden April 13, 2025

      I’m glad you agree Tak!

  10. ibarynt April 22, 2025

    I got this too and planning to post it sometime 😀.

    1. Hannes van Eeden April 22, 2025

      It’s such a good quote and reminder.

  11. unclerave April 23, 2025

    Most of my life I’ve felt a bit like an alien. These earthlings just don’t get me! — YUR

    1. Hannes van Eeden May 10, 2025

      Find the others 😉

  12. mjeanpike April 28, 2025

    Love this!

    1. Hannes van Eeden May 7, 2025

      I’m so glad to hear that!

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