The twenty years prior to the pandemic, I had been on a plane weekly, give or take. I've always been the flyer who gives off the vibe, "I'm not here to chat." Cordial, but not loquacious.

As I fly for work today, I'm thinking about the amazing experiences that happened the few times I allowed myself into a chat with other work travellers.

1) That time the person next to me was the set designer for Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas production of O. So interesting.
2) That time I sat next to Charles Barkley. His knees were spiderwebs of surgery scars. He was on his way to give a speech to college athletes. I asked him what his core message was. "Complete your degree."
3) That time the man next to me, in his fifties, was on his first flight ever off to a new job. We lost an engine. He put nail marks in my arm as he held on tight to me in fear.
4) That time an Army officer was flying with the retired service dog she'd just adopted.
5) That time my seatmate was off to pitch her product on QVC. She was terrified. I later saw her pitch. She was great.

Be careful if you sit next to me on the plane in 2024. I'm committed to being more chatty since such interesting things happen when I open up to the stranger in the aisle seat. Just like on The Me-Suite podcast, everyone is interesting if you give them a chance to tell their unique story.

Let’s see what I can learn from this guy next to me right now. His hands look like he may be a gardener, a woodworker, a glass blower, a stone mason? Here goes…