I decided a few weeks ago that, whenever I accidentally happen to lock eyes with a stranger, I’ll never be the first one to look away.
Unfortunately, this has made for some rather awkward encounters with strangers, specifically on the morning train ride.
The other day, I accidentally locked eyes with another train-rider standing about 3 feet in front of me, facing me. He didn’t look away for probably a full second, which feels like an eternity when sharing eye contact with a stranger. Normally, I’d look away, but considering the oath I made to myself, I had no choice but to continue staring until he broke the eye contact.
After that awful full second, he finally looked away, out the train window. Relieved, I lightly sighed, but as I turned to look away myself (because the shared eye contact was now over and I had won), he eyes darted back at me. Our eyes locked again.
HE WANTED A REMATCH!
Again, not wanting to disappoint myself, I shot my glance back at him, not even blinking.
After an additional 3 seconds, which felt like multiple eternities because I wanted to look away the entire time, his phone rang and he looked down to pick it up.
Boom—I won again.
He started talking on the phone a bit, intermittently making eye contact with me, through all of which I had no choice but to remain with my unblinking stare until the interchange was over.
Until next time,
Michael J. Erickson, CEO & Co-Founder
