But the bench in the sun is still there. The old man who wants to tell you about his dog is still there. The song you’ve never heard, playing from an open window—still there.
That’s encounterable. Here’s the harder question: Are you encounterable?
At first glance, it feels clunky—like business jargon or a bad translation. But look closer. To be encounterable means to be capable of being met, found, or experienced by chance. Not by appointment. Not by algorithm. Not by force. encounterable
They’re waiting to be encountered. The only question is whether you’re willing to be the one who shows up.
Not available —available is your calendar talking. Not responsive —responsive is your phone buzzing. Encounterable means you’ve left a small door open. It means you walk through the world without headphones in, without your face in a screen, without the invisible “do not disturb” sign hanging from your posture. But the bench in the sun is still there
Think about the last truly great moment you had with a stranger. Maybe it was someone on a park bench who pointed out a bird you’d never noticed. Maybe it was a barista who asked how you were and actually waited for the answer . Maybe it was a neighbor’s cat that decided, for no reason at all, that your lap was home.
Be encounterable. What’s an encounter you’ve had recently that surprised you? I’d love to read about it in the comments. That’s encounterable
Being encounterable is a risk. It means you might have to talk to someone. It means you might be late. It means you might stumble into something awkward, boring, or unexpectedly profound.