Quinn at When Do I Get the Manual? recounts the hours she spent with Max, a carriage driver she meets by chance on a cobblestone street in Vienna, Austria. While reading her wistful words, you might even recall a similar encounter you’ve had with a stranger, or contemplate the many paths you can take while traveling.
I am on the lookout for a particular word.
I want a word for the feeling I get when I connect with a total stranger for a few minutes or hours, and then never see them again. It’s an ability to suddenly feel profound, intense affection for someone I don’t know. It’s not physical attraction, necessarily. It can happen with men or women. It is a non-discriminatory feeling that happens without warning, without rhyme or reason. I want a word that explains how I can feel instantly and powerfully attached to somebody and then, in a perverse way, almost hope never to see them again.
Is there a word for that?
The wordless, nameless thing I feel skips the superficial curiosities of that regular level of interest. I lock onto people. My curiosity spontaneously mutates from a lukewarm, detached interest to a many-tendrilled absorption in the person in front of me. Once this happens, my curiosity extends into private, hidden corners; darkest secrets and earliest memories and family histories and relationships and hobbies. I want to know what they do to feel better when they’re feeling low. I want to know their favourite food. I want to know when they last cried, and why. I want to know how they get on with their siblings (if they have any), whether they like to dance or prefer to sit by the bar, what age they realised the truth about Santa Claus, and how. I want to know what drives them, and I want to know what led to their presence next to me in that particular moment, out of the 7 billion other people in the world.
Read Quinn’s post, “Falling Half in Love with Strangers.”
I would preferably call it “love at first sight” its actually the only word I have for such instant feeling, its terrific how you explain it, wao
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It’s happened twice to me and I can only think of it is as “serendipity”. Giving it that name is enough for me to classify it and reflect back on it occasionally.
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Beautifully put, I’ve always wanted a word for this because it happens so often! Thank you!
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It happens more often than most seem to think. It is always interesting to meet others. Its odd you never know why someone is put into your path. Sometimes it is the smallest or most simple statement that explains it all. Sometimes your left with wonder but that as well makes for an interesting moment in a crazy filled day. Not sure what name I put on it though.
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I love this, hope you find what you are searching for!
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Love this, hope you find what you are looking for.
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Yes!!! I love chatting with strangers and sometimes we just really connect. Although if I am feeling particularly brave, I ask for their card or contact info.
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Fantastic, this really pulled me in and kept me curious. I love the language you use here. Nicely written.
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👌👍☺
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This is really what I’m like though. I’ll see someone in the train and just keep taking quick peeks at them until either they or I get out. Thank you for putting it into words.
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I have experienced it im a sense aswell but none of my experiences have been quite as adventures as yours. Thank you for sharing😃.
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I like this , I feel like everyone has these curious feelings/thoughts that they just have each and everyday that they would love to get answers to . Even though it’s not always that easy to get them. Everyone’s thoughts are different people can call someone weird for their wide range of curiosity , but who cares, everyone’s different .
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Reminds me of auld lang syne. 😅
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This is relatable.. Let’s call it human
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Love!
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Thanks for introducing me to this writer! This piece was just fantastic.
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Very nice and relatable
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Humanity! Or it should be haha!
Interesting post anyways!
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There is nothing wrong with being open to love or to new experiences in general!
Opening your mind’s eye will change hiw you view the world
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It’s not unrequited love as we technically do not know the person, we are in love with what can be? In love with the idea of the unknown, in love with the idea of their past? There is a french word to describe this feeling, it will come to me eventually!
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The closest thing I could relate to this would be infatuation. A short lived intense and passionate feeling towards someone. A bittersweet memory xxx
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This was a beautiful read! I don’t think there is a word for it but maybe its better that way. Putting a name to an experience like that can take away from its meaning. If left a mystery, the experience is also a mystery which is part of its appeal and why it’s seducing.
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Wow! Loved that, still looking for the word myself. Coincidentally I wrote about the very same thing a couple of months ago…and called it strange connections…kinda lame, I know 🙂 it worked at the time though, hehe.
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I’ve felt the same…
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This is beautiful. I can relate to preferring the written word over a spoken conversation. However, the way you spun this bit of writing from the sensation of desperately searching for an appropriate enough word into a tale so dazzling is awe inspiring. In short, I loved it. 🙂
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Great thinking displayed! I fall in love with strangers
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I meant to say that we should invent a word for it.
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“manqué” might work in the right circumstances. It is an adjective. It is used in situations of unfilled desires. It is commonly placed after the noun, as in a “He was the object of my love manqué”. Don’t forget the little mark over the e. It is a different meaning without the mark.
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whoaa…..loved it..!!
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Pleasure reading it ! Exactly. Specially when you see the “stranger” more than twice and you hunt for the hidden meaning deep inside but again…you find its meaningless , nameless bond.
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That’s one of the way, how Love starts! You see a person, you chase him/her. and if your cupid works, Baaammm, “Love at first sight” it is called.
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This is so profound.
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That usually happens when I’m in the bus car with a cute girl, hahaha.
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I have felt this for others. It is a very strong feeling and you can almost feel your eyes sparkle as you look at them with curiosity and wonderment.
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There cannot be a word to explain such a wide feel..
The oneness is what we feel. Let it be that way it feels good
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Exceptional…concept.
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Oh I wish I knew the word for this, I have had and felt this, intensely! I felt it with strangers, friends, whilst traveling etc., the very last time I felt it – it was instantaneous and on holiday. I like to think of it as a recognition of souls :).
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Love this. Well explained!😘
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I think what you describe is a flinterest. A fleeting love interest.
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I thought it was great, I have had the same experience you are describing. I kind of like the idea of not having a word for it. It allows it to keep the mysteriousness of the experience.
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Love your post! I just wrote something about love if you want to check it out! freemamachronicles.wordpress.com
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Your post put words to my personal experience. Thanks! I just wrote something about love and identity… Hope you can check it out here: wildfreeworld.wordpress.com
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Omg, this was AMAZING, makes me want to go there!
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I really like your writing and the topic you are writing about here because it is so relatable to the everyday person. I am a new blogger and would love it if you could check out my site- I have also written about love so that article might be interest you too 🙂
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Oh yes, I know this feeling!
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The word that comes to mind is glimpse.
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I’ve always had this feeling but never sat to think about it. Yet, this article really expressed the thoughts I never knew I had when experiencing such encounter. Really beautiful!
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