In the rhythm of strangers
Adapted from a journal entry written 02/10/2023. Location: Toronto, Canada
A room filled with unlikely faces. A mosaic of individuals, brought together by the monotonous beat of a bass drum. Different lives. Different experiences. Different neighborhoods. I walk in with curiosity, what could a night like this hold for someone like me?
I check the time, realizing I only have 8 hours before I leave the city.
The dim red light casts dancing silhouettes across the crowd. A rhythm emerges that envelops everyone. A groove. A energy. A warmth. A bubble. It’s oddly comforting.
Everyone’s completely present - the purest versions of themselves. Walls start coming down. A cloud is lifting. Everyone’s a little more vulnerable, a little more understanding.
Why ever lie?
If you’re open to it, in a room full of strangers you’ll find someone in whom you can find yourself - someone who mirrors a part of you. Some might politely decline - a shy smile and then turn away. But it’s okay, there’s always someone else close by. There’s always someone who can leave you feeling slightly better than before, you just have to look.
That night I discovered why positive energy attracts more of the same. It creates a phenomenon where openness and authenticity are celebrated. It's a common thread, weaving through the crowd, leaving a joy that lingers long after the last beat has faded.
As I left the cool air felt different. In a room full of strangers, I found a piece of myself and perhaps left a piece behind.