Dear Stranger

We all meet so many people in our lives. Many come to stay but many are like the passing wind. They touch you and just disappear. With time you may forget them and what part they played in your life, but,  it’s some of those little things,  a gesture, a few words that changed your perspective. 

Well, it might not be the same for everyone, but that’s what I  feel. Which is why I’m writing this letter. To tell you that the small things you do, matter. You say and do things which you may think have little impact, but not for me. And I’ll tell you how. 

You met me at a time in my life when everything around me was changing. A new place, a new atmosphere, new people. To be honest, I was scared. History hadn’t been too kind to me and the last thing I wanted was for it to repeat itself. And then I met you. I’m glad I did. You snuck up on me and before I knew it you weren’t a stranger anymore. Thank you for coming into my life and showing me that my fears were just that, fears. You gave me the courage to face them. Whenever I needed rescuing,  you were there. Your advice got me through some tough times. Your clarity of thought kept me sane. 

You made me feel that I was a part of something, that I wasn’t alone. With you around,  life was easy and full of fun. Hanging out with you and all our friends was exactly what I needed to get rid of the bad memories of the past which were holding me back. You gave me the freedom to be myself without having to overcompensate and trying too hard. You took notice of my actions and appreciated them. Many times, I had felt that most of them went unnoticed,  but it wasn’t so. Not only did you notice them, but also commended me for my efforts. Your faith in me made me more confident in my own skin. I’m grateful that you gave me the best present of all,  myself. 

For the longest time I was just pretending to be happy,  but deep down I wasn’t. I had become so good at it that after a while even I couldn’t tell what was real. I was living a lie. Insecurity was weighing me down. All it took was a jolt from you and things started to change. At first it brought unbearable pain but as I look back at it, I guess it was necessary. I needed that pain to realize what happiness is. Sometimes all we need is to do is burn the termite infested tree to the ground to get place for a new sapling of hope. And that’s what happened. What I didn’t see then, I know now. I was too much of a coward to have taken that step myself but you took that decision for us. I know it wouldn’t have been easy on you but you took that call anyway. Thank you for seeing the bigger picture I couldn’t and knowing what’s good for me better than I did. 

When you travel to new places, you meet new people. They don’t know your story and you don’t know theirs. Till we get to know each other we just see each other on face value. Wasn’t it the same case with us? We probably met very few times,  but even so, you saw a charm about me that even I didn’t know I had. Sometimes it was your compliments that filled my day with a positive energy. I cherish that and I promise you that I’m going to share that energy with everyone around me. A small compliment never hurt anyone. 

You’ve given me so many things by coming into my life that if I keep writing, this letter is never going to end.(Of course I wouldn’t want you to fall asleep while reading it… Like Ross did on Friends :-P) 

 So, I guess I’ll stop here with a parting note, “Don’t be a stranger”