Humanding of a stranger: How closeness arises in times of distance

Humanding of a stranger: How closeness arises in times of distance

Berlin-Mitte, Deutschland - nag/nag editors -

in the pulsating metropolis of Berlin, where life is often hectic and unpredictable, the unpredictable happens. A nightly adventure that makes the boundaries between familiarity and strangeness blur. So an artist hugged a stranger in the darkness of her apartment, whom she previously only knew from the digital world. Saturday night, at 3.15 a.m., she closed the door behind her and smiled. What had happened there? A feeling of confusion and at the same time of warmth came over when she thought back to the five hours, which she had spent with him in a posture called "spoon".

The artist, who had been intensively committed to a series of events against fascism and for democratic values ​​in recent months, has increasingly felt alienated from society. In an article by

The search for closeness

Two years ago they had met on a dating platform such as OKCUPID or BUMBLE. Their exchange was sporadic, shaped by pictures and stories from her travels, but a real connection always seemed unreachable. The artist describes how, despite her longing for closeness, she was repeatedly held back by external circumstances such as corona or personal problems. "At some point I was fed up," she admits. In a moment of despair, she deleted almost all apps and wanted to cancel the contact. But the stranger reacted unexpectedly and offered her to meet - for a hug that might be exactly what she needed.

The decision to make him was not easy. She wondered if she should really get involved in a stranger in a world full of uncertainties and challenges. But the longing for human closeness predominated. When he finally stood at her door, she was surprised at how little fear she was. Despite the uncertainty, there was a feeling of familiarity that she hadn't expected.

an unexpected experience

The encounter itself was anything but usual. The artist describes how she lost herself in the arms of the stranger while the world seemed to stand still outside. It was a moment of escape from reality, a short moment in which the worries and fears of the outside world faded. "The disappointment about what I might have hoped for evaporated quickly," she reflects. It wasn't George Clooney who stepped through the door, but that didn't matter. The connection she felt at that moment was real and deep.

at a time when society is often shaped by polarity and estrangement, this story shows how important human connections are. The artist found the hugging of a foreign consolation in the middle of a life that is often characterized by fighting and challenges. As Zeit online , it is this search for closeness, which may also be connected to us.

In a world that often appears cold and distant, there remains hope for real human encounters. In this unexpected moment of intimacy, the artist not only hit a stranger, but also rediscovered a part of herself. It is a memory that we all strive for connection and understanding despite our differences.

Details
OrtBerlin-Mitte, Deutschland

Kommentare (0)