Sitting in a coffee shop trying to make eye contact with passersby can be super awkward.
Sharyn Sadauskas knows 含羞草研究社� she含羞草研究社檚 tried.
It含羞草研究社檚 inevitable to see people pull out a phone, book or laptop to fill the void of being alone.
含羞草研究社淥nce you do that, a wall goes up,含羞草研究社� Sadauskas says. 含羞草研究社淎nd some of us are better than others at reading body language or social cues.含羞草研究社�
Someone buried in work or reading doesn含羞草研究社檛 appear interested in a conversation, but sometimes a little distraction is just what含羞草研究社檚 needed.
That含羞草研究社檚 where her 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檇 love to talk含羞草研究社� campaign comes in.
Sadauskas hopes to make it as simple as a yellow flower providing a visual cue that someone is open to conversation.
含羞草研究社淥ne day everyone will know what a yellow flower means like they know what a rainbow means.含羞草研究社�
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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 含羞草研究社� both emotionally and time-wise.
She felt two options 含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淓veryone talks to you,含羞草研究社� her mother wrote, painting a picture of the two them at a bus stop 含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淪ometimes it含羞草研究社檚 not about telling someone your deepest dreams or fears 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 as simple as 含羞草研究社榮hould I go get my fishing rod?含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 she says.
That cemented her goal to create the 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檇 love to talk含羞草研究社� campaign, which started with coasters and table signs bearing a big yellow flower and the words inviting conversation.
含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 no question about what you含羞草研究社檙e supposed to do,含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社� or think they do 含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社� community centres, churches and coffee shops 含羞草研究社� 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.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not a guaranteed conversation,含羞草研究社� she warns. But if it doesn含羞草研究社檛 work the first time 含羞草研究社� 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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