Mission Day: 1

So today marks the first day for my new life mission. Now you may be asking: What the hell is he planning on doing now? Yet, for all you nay-sayers our there; it's simple: I'm am starting a goal to meet at least one new person everyday for everyday of the year.

It all started when I was driving home yesterday evening, and people everywhere; there were people parked at every single store I passed; the highway was crowded, and all the side roads I passed seemed just as crowded. So I got to thinking: Isn't it weird that we go through life day-in-day-out and pass all of these people and will probably never meet?!? It kinda makes me sad to think of all those people I see everyday and I just pass on by.

So, here I am. I made the goal of meeting at least one new person everyday for one year. Yes, there are rules I have set for this experience. The following rules apply to my goals, there are as follows:
1.) If you know their first name, they do not count. This eliminates delivery men, sales reps, clients, and spouses of clients.
2.) Clients -even the new ones- do not count.
3.) Church members do not count. I can still meet them, but they do not apply to this goal.
4.) Each person I meet must be a complete stranger.
5.) Introductions via a colleague, acquaintance, friend, or relative do not count.

And thus begins the mission; and I am happy to say that day 1 went quite well...almost.

Today at work a woman came into the office to drop off some information -soliciting basically- for some weird pyramid scheme thing. She stopped to look at the kittens we have for adoption in my office, and I thought to myself: Here she is, my new friend for the day! Yes, I actually referred to her as friend. But then I didn't know if she would count because she's kind of a delivery person, but I've never seen her before. So anyways, I went for it.

She was really nice actually. The conversation went a little something like this: (I am in italics, her response is plain.)

Want to adopt a new kitten?
Ha ha ha, no. I have 2 cats and three kids. My plate is beyond full.
Yeah, definitely sounds like you have a lot going on! My name is Colin. Thanks for dropping this off, it looks pretty interseting.
Nice to meet you, my name is LaTasha. Yeah, I've been reading this more and more as I walk around the city. I guess you can call it interesting.
Oh, this isn't something from you directly?
Heck no. I don't do these stupid pyramid things. I mean please, I work for you, so you can make money off me, and I make less because I have to give you part of it? No thanks.
Ha ha ha
Although, with me not having a job and two kids to provide for, I may have to look into it soon! ha ha ha
Oh my, you lost your job?!? That seems to be a trend now-a-days. I hope you find something soon.
Yeah me too, my aunt new a lady who does this and she's paying me to pass out like 3000 of these things door to door. It's not much money, but I've gotta do something.
Well thats good, and hey, from the looks of this, when you become a Platinum Level Senior Vice President for them they'll make the payments on a Bentley for you. I bet there isn't a person in that company who has a Bentley!
Damn straight, no one up in there got a Bentley! You right about that.
What kind of cats do you have?
Just two black one, a boy and a girl. Rambo & Adrienne. They crazy.
Rambo & Adrienne, thats sooo cute! How old are they?
Uhm, they a little past one years old.
Well here, take these, hopefully they'll help you a little until you can find some good work, and heres one of our magnets if you need anything give us a call.
Really? Thank you so much, I've been doin' this all day long **It was only 10:30am! LOL** and you the first person who even told me their name. What are these (referring to the things I just handed her)?
Oh, they're a bunch of $5.00 off coupons that we get to use when people buy Hill's dog or cat food. You can use them at any petstore or vet.
Really? Five dollars...thank you so much!! Have a good day!
Hey, you too! Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas to you too!!

And off she went, with like, 9 or 10 coupons and our magnet. I will probably never see her again, but that's not the point. The whole entire point of this experience is to just meet people. To go deeper than surface, if possible, and try to help them anyway I can in the few minutes I have with them. For LaTasha, it was just a warm hello, a few questions, and some coupons that didn't cost me a penny, but will save her about $45 to $50.

I feel great about this experiment. I know that things will only get easier as each day passes, and hopefully as my life is changed a little bit each day, so will the lives of those I meet.

Tune in tomorrow at 11/10CST to see how day 2 goes.

This is Colin.Always. Remember: We are only as good as those we ridcule.