Sitting in a coffee shop trying to make eye contact with passersby can be super awkward.
Sharyn Sadauskas knows 乌鸦传媒� she乌鸦传媒檚 tried.
It乌鸦传媒檚 inevitable to see people pull out a phone, book or laptop to fill the void of being alone.
乌鸦传媒淥nce you do that, a wall goes up,乌鸦传媒� Sadauskas says. 乌鸦传媒淎nd some of us are better than others at reading body language or social cues.乌鸦传媒�
Someone buried in work or reading doesn乌鸦传媒檛 appear interested in a conversation, but sometimes a little distraction is just what乌鸦传媒檚 needed.
That乌鸦传媒檚 where her 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檇 love to talk乌鸦传媒� campaign comes in.
Sadauskas hopes to make it as simple as a yellow flower providing a visual cue that someone is open to conversation.
乌鸦传媒淥ne day everyone will know what a yellow flower means like they know what a rainbow means.乌鸦传媒�
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While she started promoting the campaign in June 2022, the idea of interacting with strangers germinated naturally during health measures that kept people apart in 2020. Just before that, Sadauskas left a volunteer position that was demanding 乌鸦传媒� both emotionally and time-wise.
She felt two options 乌鸦传媒� look to find an activity to fill a void, or look for make use of her special skill. She chose the latter, with inspiration from a letter her mother wrote her years earlier that highlighted an enviable trait.
乌鸦传媒淓veryone talks to you,乌鸦传媒� her mother wrote, painting a picture of the two them at a bus stop 乌鸦传媒� where strangers invariably choose to engage with her daughter.
It was a perfect example of a skill Sadauskas wanted to share, but had to figure out how to create value and growth.
During restrictions on gatherings, she once kayaked at Cameron Lake, and while pulling up at the beach came across another solo human. She walked to her car, wearing an unexpected smile, then she realized it was there because of their small interaction.
乌鸦传媒淪ometimes it乌鸦传媒檚 not about telling someone your deepest dreams or fears 乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 as simple as 乌鸦传媒榮hould I go get my fishing rod?乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕 she says.
That cemented her goal to create the 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檇 love to talk乌鸦传媒� campaign, which started with coasters and table signs bearing a big yellow flower and the words inviting conversation.
乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 no question about what you乌鸦传媒檙e supposed to do,乌鸦传媒� Sadauskas says.
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She recalls a co-worker having one up on the table during a meeting regarding the signs. When the second person left, he pulled out his phone 乌鸦传媒� forgetting the sign was up.
A 93-year-old woman came over to chat and the two enjoyed a conversation about her late husband and other such topics a nonagenarian might have on their minds.
Two things struck her. First, someone with 93-year-old eyes could see and read the card. Second, the woman understood the assignment and did not hesitate.
Sadauskas figures one in 10 people actually want to be left alone 乌鸦传媒� or think they do 乌鸦传媒� but most folks really want to connect.
A Parksville resident, she started stocking the signage at places where folks might stop for a spell in her community.
As a hockey parent, she乌鸦传媒檚 on the road and sees strong support from what she calls community champions in Greater Victoria.
Moka House in Victoria, for example, keeps them in stock, but there are spaces 乌鸦传媒� community centres, churches and coffee shops 乌鸦传媒� up and down the Island as far off as Pitt Meadows that participate.
Her hope now is that folks will take it on without the table signs, simply seeing a yellow flower on a table could signal a desire for conversation.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 not a guaranteed conversation,乌鸦传媒� she warns. But if it doesn乌鸦传媒檛 work the first time 乌鸦传媒� try again.
Learn more including where to get signs at or email idlovetotalkproject@gmail.com.
christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
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