My eight-year-old collects new friends the way I collect stress-induced stomach ulcers. “Oh, you like strawberry ice-cream? I love strawberry ice-cream!” I’ve heard her say after she’s sidled up to some new, unsuspecting kid in the playground. “Why don’t you come over and we’ll play?” There’s no fear of rejection, no anxiety about making a social faux pas; for my daughter, it’s all about the pure joy of discovering another human and revelling in their company.
I had zero intention of meeting anyone when I agreed to go to a speed dating event in 2005. A friend of mine had just broken up with her partner and begged me to go along with her, so I agreed. I didn’t meet anyone I clicked with – until there was a break in the rounds and I met a lovely woman in the bathroom. We ended up chatting during every break and I realised, ‘You know what? She’s my favourite person I’ve met so far.
A couple of days later, I timidly introduced myself to his wife, Jaque, who turned out to be just as delightful. She began inviting me over for meals, taking me to the best cafes in the area and introducing me to other parents at our children’s school. You could see she believed in sisterhood, and having her behind me every step of the way during that period made such a difference.
Justine Eltakchi and Dilara Earle: “For others thinking of making new connections, I would say remain optimistic and have faith in other people’s humanity.” Seven years ago, I was renting rooms in my apartment on Airbnb for extra cash when I received a message late one night. Dilara had just split with her boyfriend and was urgently looking for a place to crash. She turned up with these huge bags but the minute she settled in, we started talking and couldn’t stop.