The Most Important 10 Words a Stranger Ever Said to Me

I am getting old...it is making me introspective...

So you're down here in the description, huh. Well, you should probably open up Spotify and subscribe to SciShow Tangents, which is a very good science trivia game show podcast!!!

----

[coletakkish]

"Putting myself out there, is not natural for me."
- Hank Green, Youtuber, science communicator, author, podcaster, TikTok sensation, punk rock band frontman, and CEO

[PresenceMusic]

“I like this the way that some people like jumping out of planes” is exactly the same way I feel as a naturally introverted creator on the internet

[julischrier]

Me wondering what the 9 words could be because “sneezing’s never normal, I never sneeze” is only 6 words

[lonestarr]

I cannot comprehend how, after all those years, apparently there are still stories left to tell. That goes to both Hank and John. I feel you both live your lifes way more extensively than I ever did.

[DragCadRacing]

"Putting myself out there... is my extreme sport. I like this the way some people like jumping out of planes." Wow. That is an apt metaphor. That got me, Hank.

[justbeyondthecornerproduct]

"He's a huge nerd and he's dancing way too much"

Hank I'm like 15 years younger than you and you've retro-futuristically burned me

[youruniquehandle]

"I let her be one of the voices in my head, certainly not the only one, but one of them."

[Jesse__H]

I never learned how to dance. But I eventually did learn TO dance. It's been a small thing, but in a few instances in my life it has made me happy.

[rmdodsonbills]

I think I was in High School when this moment happened, but it might have been middle school. A girl in my class came up to me and said that she had been having trouble with her grades, or at least her parents weren't satisfied and they had suggested she ask someone who was doing well in school and get advice on what she could be doing differently. Now, I'm going to say this with all the humility I can muster, because it's going to sound like a brag (and I apologize ahead of time). She came to me to ask for advice and I realized that I didn't have any advice to give her. Because school came easily to me, I couldn't tell her "Ah, well, I study 6 hours every night" or "Make sure the first thing you do when you get home is finish all your homework" or anything like that because the best I could think of was "Well, I just pay attention in class and make sure to take good notes." I realized the only advice I had was probably so obvious that either she or her parents had already come up with that and it wasn't working for her. It was sometime later that I finally realized that most people think the stuff that comes easily to them must come easily to everyone else. And when someone else falls short, it must just be that they failed to take advantage of the talents they've been given. I see it all the time, as people who have never faced homelessness in their lives assume that people who have must have some kind of character flaw. Or that people who have been unemployed for a long time must really enjoy sponging off the government and haven't been trying hard enough to find work. Etc. etc. I'm sure you all could come up with your own examples. You don't know what anyone else's troubles are, and so if you see someone who is having difficulty with something you think is easy, try to remember that every person has their own set of things that come easily. They may very well wonder why you can't manage some other part of your life they think it simple. Perhaps like dancing.

[katiepadden]

"I let her be one of the voices in my head, certainly not the only one, but one of them." I've found that it is so important to be cognizant of who we let dictate our perspectives. I'd love to let this perspective guide me towards being a kinder and more gentle person

[kathrinwolf]

Don't dance like nobody is watching - dance like everyone who's watching is impressed by you. 🖤

[realspacemodels]

Everybody should have a moment like that in their life. Most probably do. In high school, I overheard two girls in the hall between classes. One said to the other "I want you to hop on one foot all the way to class" (because SHE was already in a school group like Honor Society and the other girl was "pledging"). The other girl simply said, "I'm not going to do that." And walked to class with her dignity intact. I wasn't even involved in the interaction, but I learned at that moment that you don't have to bow to peer pressure. They have no idea.

[bookiebaker]

Hank: I had misinterpreted cringe for envy

ContraPoints somewhere: someone call? 👀🧿

[Smidge]

Maybe she wasn't impressed with the quality of his dancing, but the his self-confidence.

[skylerwitherspoon]

This feels like an old school nerdfighteria video in a good way :') we love unironic enthusiasm and being yourself and not forgetting to be awesome

[SongHarmonizer]

It's incredible the way tiny moments like that one can ripple out and out and out. Years ago John posted a video where he said "there is no them, only more us". I don't remember anything else about the video, but I've been carrying those 7 words in my head every since. It's become how I live my life.

[quixiiify]

One of the kindest compliments I've ever received was, "I wish I was brave enough to wear outfits like yours." I just think about her acknowledgement that people might judge my clothes negatively because they were different, but that instead she saw me as brave, enviable, and of having cool outfits. :)

[PedanticAntics]

Plot twist:
That girl was being sarcastic, but your wholesome openness and subsequent interpretation of her comment changed _HER_ whole life.
She never thought she'd be taken seriously, until that moment...

[sam-the-moomin]

“I know I wish I could dance like him too” - me whenever I see Hank or John dance

[hellosaera]

choosing to see the good rather than the awkward or bad is not my first instinct, but it sure does make life a little less dark when you take the time.