“Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone’s hand is the beginning of a journey.” ~ Vera Nazarian

Confession: One of my guiltiest pleasures is perusing my local Craigslist’s Missed Connections in the personals section.

Although I am incredibly realistic, a hopeless romantic still lives in me.

Who knew romantic gems could be found on an online classifieds website, between buying used cars and sketchy advertisements for hookers in Waikiki?

It’s like finding a little bit of love in a hopeless place.

Several years ago, I dated a man who introduced me to the Missed Connections section of the classifieds. A few creepy messages aside, the majority of the missed connection posts are incredibly sweet.

What’s more romantic than unrequited “love” for a stranger?

Basically, a person posts a missed encounter on Craigslist, in the hopes of connecting with “the one who got away.”

Has a stranger ever caught your eye, but you were too afraid to approach them? Have you ever noticed someone checking you out, but nothing ever happened? If you love romantic confessions, then you will enjoy all these sweet declarations of love from complete strangers.

Granted, not all the missed connections are romantic. In fact, some are borderline creepy. However, the funny stories and the romantic stories are well worth the time to read.

Here are just a few I discovered in today’s missed connections in my town. I’d encourage you to do the same in your own city. It might bring a smile to your face, too.

Maybe it can inspire the next Hollywood romantic comedy?

“Over the last few weeks every time I go to the 7 day store I always run it to you, no matter which one I go to. I’m the one that always has to take the opportunity to say hi, so I can see your beautful smile. I know it a long shot that you will ever see this. But I just wanted to the time to say think you for being you, and making my day that much better.”

“You were the woman in downtown longs on Wednesday, the 22nd, at 6:15 in the morning. You were dressed so stylishly I commented at that. I was in a rush as I had to cook breakfast for my office staff for pro administration assistant day. It would have been nice to meet a new friend and have a conversation over coffee. I doubt you’ll see this, but you never know.”

“Today while at whole foods in Kailua, I saw the most beautiful woman, she was in a dark red dress that caught my eye and barefoot. Those eyes, and that smile oh that smile. She smiled at me twice and I only wish I had done more than smile back. It was around five and I was on a schedule or I would have gone back in to tell her just how beautiful she truly is. I can only hope she reads this to know.”

I don’t know why I love it so much. Maybe it reminds me that we should be more courageous with our hearts and take a chance on love.

Far too many people fear rejection, and that prevents them from making real connections in the world.

Imagine all the possibilities, if we let go of fear and took more risks.

What if I just said hello?

What if I just asked her out for coffee?

What if I just told her my feelings?

Whether you realize it or not, there is someone out there, right now,  much like the people in these missed connections, who is in absolute awe of your beauty.

You may be getting groceries, and there is someone admiring you from a distance, thinking you are absolutely gorgeous, but you will never know this because they are just too chicken sh*t to say it.

It has happened in my own life.

When I first began CrossFitting, I developed a huge crush on one of the men at my box. I don’t know what it was about him, but he always left me speechless, with butterflies in my stomach.

Being so shy around him, I rarely ever spoke to him, despite his attempts to be near me.

Fast forward a year later, guess who confessed to me that they had a huge crush on me too?!

“You are bewitching and I am infatuated with you,” said Mr. CrossFit.

Damn. Why didn’t he tell me earlier? Why didn’t I tell him how I felt?

If we hadn’t both been too afraid to tell the other person, who knows what could have happened?

See? You never know who is watching you or might be head over heels in love with you.

You just have to take a chance at love before you miss your connection.

 

Relephant Read:

A Craigslist Missed Connection…from 1973.

 

Author: Cicily Bilecki

Apprentice Editor: Toby Israel/ Editor: Alli Sarazen

Photo: Flickr