Humans are social creatures, which means that we thrive on human interaction. We are constantly seeking new ways to connect with others, especially online. Some people are so used to meeting friends through websites that they think nothing of it, but what if a random person approached you in real life?
Jennifer Pete was waiting at a red light in Atlanta, Georgia, when she saw a young man waiting at a bus stop. The woman had just dropped her son off at his father’s house, and she was enjoying the spring weather with her windows rolled down. That’s when she and the teen made eye contact.
Without a moment’s notice, the teen asked Jennifer a question that caught her completely off guard: “Ma’am, would you like to be my chauffeur tomorrow for my girlfriend’s prom?”
The woman was surprised at how bold this young man was. It must have taken so much courage for him to ask that question, and he did it on a dime. “I smiled because I liked his gutsy move and his charm,” Jennifer told Love What Matters, “and then proceeded to give him an auto-pilot answer. ‘No. I am sorry, but I have plans.’ I then proceeded to drive away in my Porsche Panamera.”
Jennifer drove off, but the question lingered on her mind. Why did she say no? Suddenly the driver found herself making a u-turn, seeking out that same teen.
“I decided without anything other than gut instinct to turn the car around and go talk to this kid. His name, I learned, was Jonathan. The look on his face when I came back was wide-eyed and fantastic. We exchanged details and I agreed to pick him up at his mom’s the next day. As I drove away for the second time, I felt excited and open and super present.”
The big day came, and Jennifer made her way to Jonathan’s house. He still wasn’t ready by the time she arrived – teens ALWAYS need to look their absolute best, so it’s not surprising that this kid put extra time into his prom style. Jennifer talked to Jonathan’s mother while she waited.
Finally, the young man was ready to go. His girlfriend, however, was a different story. If men can take a long time to get ready, women can take an eternity. Calling on her creativity, Jennifer decided to drive Jonathan around the city for a photo shoot.
“We drove all over!” Jennifer explained. “We hit downtown, Old Fourth Ward and the West side, finding lots of places to pose with landmarks and street art. Jonathan talked to me about school, what he wanted for his future, his dad, sports, Atlanta in general. It went from funny to heavy to light. There was never a lull in conversation. It wasn’t lost on me how happy, energized and engaged we both were during this experience. It was so random how it happened, but felt so intentional at the same time.”
After a tour of the town, Jonathan’s girlfriend was ready to be picked up. Jennifer was delighted to begin the next phase of the evening.
“We then picked up his girlfriend who was seriously glam’d up for the night,” the driver shared. “She looked beautiful and confident. I took pictures of them with her family and then we were off. They were chatty and to themselves in the backseat and I took to my role as the evening’s chauffeur.”
Next, the two lovebirds began brainstorming the best way to make an entrance to the prom. Jennifer good-naturedly agreed to roll the windows down and blast a Future song. She even revved the engine a couple times, making a big scene for the two teens.
Next, the couple made their way into the venue, and Jennifer’s time was all hers. As she reflected on the encounter, she realized just how significant that small interaction had been.
“I left with my heart very full and feeling incredibly lucky to have had that experience. It got me thinking about what if we all made more eye contact, or talked to ‘strangers,’ said more yes’s than no’s, were generous just for the sake of it. I promise I got more out of that day than he did.”
“The bonus? Jonathan has stayed in touch from time to time. He even called to invite me to his high school graduation that took place the next year. For me, I think we are all seeking connection in our lives. I know I am. By listening to my gut, it allowed me to solidly connect to my instincts, families I would have never met and a kid named Jonathan whose courage to ask the question led to an amazing adventure for both of us.”
We all want to connect with others, and sometimes all we need is a little push. When Jennifer opened her mind to the endless possibilities, she was rewarded by forming a lasting bond that changed much more than her evening plans. If we were all more open to meeting new people, the world would be a more welcoming place for everyone.
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