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CURRENTS is the official newsletter of the Credit River PROBUS Club. It is published monthly and emailed to members to keep them abreast of club activities and to promote the club’s central objectives. Submissions are welcome as are new ideas and should be emailed to Lydia Koop, lydia04@rogers.com.

President’s Message

In his January 11, 2025, Globe and Mail article, “Hello Stranger”, Toronto journalist Ian Brown addresses the issue of talking to strangers. He writes of the “fractured, war-soaked, propaganda-wrapped” world we find ourselves living in and as a result, “talking to strangers has become a rare habit.” We frequently encounter people who are complete strangers to us, often passing each other without so much as a nod. Researchers have found that only one in five Canadians talk to strangers. And yet, those same researchers report that those who do talk to strangers are three times happier than those who don’t.

There are many reasons why we may be hesitant to talk to strangers. We may feel that others are uncomfortable being addressed, or we don’t want to intrude. We may want to stay within ourselves, unsure as to what to say. We have a natural fear or caution of the unfamiliar, feeling unable to assess the character of the stranger we meet. Further research, Brown reports, suggests that “people are afraid to talk to strangers for two main reasons: fear of having nothing to say in an awkward silence, and fear of rejection.” Brown himself finds that “every time I couldn’t bring myself to talk to a stranger, I felt a little less alive, as if something small but valuable, some kernel of courage, had slipped through my fingers.”

And yet there are potential rewards for acknowledging the presence of strangers. We are, after all, social creatures, and interacting with others is very important to our overall health. Canadian psychologist Gillian Sanderson reports that one of the things we get from talking to strangers is that “you’re more likely to be surprised . . . surprise is our reward for daring to overcome our loneliness.”

Those of us at the information meeting for creating Credit River PROBUS in October 2011 will recall that, for the most part, we were strangers to each other. And yet, the warmth and enthusiasm in that room lead us to realize that this organization was a “best” way for us to be retired and yet be socially, physically, and mentally active. And look at us now! Whether it be at coffee, or bowling, or rambling, or scotch tastings, or travelling, we have met and become comfortable with people who were at one time strangers to us. Probus has allowed us to move beyond any initial shyness or reluctance in approaching people we don’t know, and our lives have become much richer as a result.  In the words of country singer Jim Reeves’ song, A stranger’s just a friend you do not know.

Further Reading: Talking to Strangers; What We Should Know About the People We Don’t
Know, by Malcolm Gladwell

Bob Warren – President, Credit River PROBUS

You can find this month’s complete issue and past editions of CURRENTS here.

Read your copy of CURRENTS or see the web to find out more about  Activities,  Events,  and Travel in our club.

Direct comments about CURRENTS to Lydia Koop, lydia04@rogers.com. If you need to be sent another copy of CURRENTS please email crprobus@gmail.com.