#strangersmeet

[fatblackdiva]

"I spend more time choosing goodies than my regular food! I'm like a baby. But you gotta have something, right?" This isn't a made up story. This is what she said to me. I'd walked up the aisle to pretend to shop but really to take her picture, and then she spoke to me and was so nice. We laughed together and twice she put her hand on my arm, a simple gesture that spoke to me on several levels. I got a couple of things off of high shelves for her ("I did used to be taller, but I was never so tall as YOU!"), and we said our goodbyes. What an excellent close to the first leg of this marathon! #StrangersMeet #BeingNeighborly 7:28am #NewYorkCity “But You Gotta Have Something, Right?” by @girlgriot as part of #24hourproject #24hourproject2021 #24hr21 #24hr21_NewYorkCity #24hr21_BklynStacie #24hr21_GirlGriot #stories For the 2021 edition, #24HrPrj is supporting Children’s Rights and the work Responsible Charity is doing for children in Kolkata, India. 24hourproject.org https://www.instagram.com/p/CRtYd46rGZo/?utm_medium=tumblr

[strangersmeet-blog]

Lesson #1: Tight spaces and how to approach them

Picture it... girls night. The club/bar is packed and you are having a great time dancing/drinking/chatting/sweating. Suddenly you find yourself squished against a pillar/table/chair as someone forgets exactly how much mass their body possesses and misjudges the 4 inch gap between you and your closest friend. Yikes!!

We've all been there, but what can you do? Honestly... nothing. BUT we can lead by example and modify how we shimmy past our fellow party goers. Which brings us to the lesson:

                   HOW TO GET BY PEOPLE IN CLOSE SPACES

First, alert the person to your presence. A simple tap or touch on the shoulder or upper arm is sufficient. Note: the lower back is NOT ok... it's kinda creepy. And anything lower than that is punishable by a quick jab to the nose.

Second, say "excuse me". If it's loud just mouth it! They'll never know but appreciate the gesture.

Finally, comes the execution. Do not prolong it and do not jostle past violently. In one swift motion step by and move on with your night.

And now for a couple of never EVERS.

Never purposely grind on the person your are sliding past. I mean come on! Buy me a drink first!

Do not make creepy eye contact the entire s l o w pass. It is terrifying. (Yes this has happened to me. Just the other night in fact.... twice. It is positively slimy and my girl and I dipped out shortly after.)

  However, if an awkward moment cannot be avoided... have fun with it. For instance, if a stranger passes between you and your friend, sandwich them with a party dance! Positive awkward is always better than negative awkward. If you are the slider, do a goofy dance like the electric slide or cat daddy as you go buy, you'll get extra points :)

It's not hard just be respectful and avoid being creepy. If you are a clown at heart and feel that the group you are slithering through will appreciate an awesome dance, go for it. Just know when enough is enough.

Now go out there and squish your way to the dance floor!