I’m proudly Middle Eastern. 

Hospitality is one of our most defining features. It lives in the small, everyday moments: drinking tea with neighbours late into the night, long breakfasts with twenty people gathered around platters of fruit, bread, and eggs, and conversations that stretch far beyond polite small talk. 

It doesn’t stop at the front door, either. It shows up in the market, where you chat with the stall owner. In taxis, where you ask the driver about his family. In queues, where you strike up a conversation with the “auntie” in front of you (because in our culture, any older person becomes family), and maybe even end up trying her favourite ice cream combination. 

That kind of warmth doesn’t happen by accident. 

Community isn’t just proximity, it’s connection. It’s choosing to see people, to be curious about them, to make space for them in your day. Growing up around that mindset, I’ve seen how it lights people up. I’ve seen my family beam with it. And I’ve found myself wondering: can I live like that too? 

So I started trying. 

I call it radical friendliness. 

Every time I leave the house, I set myself a small challenge: speak to at least one stranger. 

It sounds simple, but at first, it wasn’t. There’s always that hesitation, that quiet voice asking, what if it’s awkward? But every time I push past it and reach out, the world feels a little brighter. 

It started on a bus. 

I take the same one home every day. I’d always say thank you to the driver, but one day I had the thought: “Why stop there?” So I asked him a question about his job. That question turned into a conversation. By the time I reached my stop, we’d been talking for 15 minutes. 

As I was getting off, he handed me a small piece of merchandise from behind the counter. “Thank you! Same time tomorrow?” I said, smiling. 

Since then, we’ve had countless conversations. I know about his sons. He’s told me about the local mosque. We’ve shared stories and laughed about life. Now, every time I catch the bus, I find myself hoping he’s the one driving. 

And that’s just one stranger turned familiar. 

There have been enthusiastic train drivers, stylish coffee shop regulars, and even inspiring travellers passing through. Each interaction is small on its own, but together, they’ve changed how I see the world.

Since I started doing this, I’ve noticed something: there are only upsides. 

I feel more confident. I’m better at talking to people I don’t know. I notice more kindness around me. And most importantly, I feel more connected to others and to myself. 

Because in showing up for others, I’ve learned how to show up for myself.

So try it. Talk to people. Be curious. Be open. 

You never know where a simple conversation might lead. 

A few tips to get started: 

• Start with a question: “How long have you been doing this?” or “What’s your favourite part of your job?” 
• Be genuinely interested- people can feel it! 
• Share a little of yourself, too. Connection goes both ways. 
• And most importantly: listen. When you lend an ear, it often comes back to you. 

Radical kindness doesn’t require grand gestures. 

Sometimes, it just starts with saying hello.