On my recent trip to Seattle, my travels were enlivened by conversations with strangers along the way. That got me thinking about a frequent traveler I know who confessed that he finds it difficult to talk to strangers and wondered how I do it.

Since my Do Talk To Strangers Policy is a vital component of traveling, I started to consider how I actually go about it. 

Some of it it purely intuitive. For instance, when a stranger plunks down next to me on an airplane, I take a breath, take a look and see if I'm moved to start a conversation. Most of the time I get it right. Once in a while, I know from my opening question that my seatmate is inclined toward solitude and I stop there.

Whether you're standing in line at the post office or waiting for a train, here are a few ideas to help you uncover the fascinating folks around you.

• Make it a game. Decide ahead of time that you want to find an interesting story or inspiring acquaintance. I have been on long flights that seemed to pass in a moment because I had landed next to a great storyteller. 

• Don't wait. Instigate. Be willing to be the one who takes the first step. A griendly smile is a good way to test the water. If it's not reciprocated, move on.

• Look for common ground. I often open a conversation with a compliment or observation about something the stranger is wearing or carrying or something that's happening around us. 
  
  When I hopped into a London taxi that was covered in promotional material for the Rolling Stones, I suspected I had a fascinating chat ahead of me. And I did.
  
  I learned that my driver was the only cab in the city promoting the Stones, that he earned an £750 a year by putting advertising on his cab. He was hoping he might get tickets to a Stones concert as a bonus.

• Be politely curious. Our reluctance to talk to strangers may be caused by thinking it's about us. Wrong. It's about them. Yes, you might be subjected to a tedious story now and then, but it's worth the risk.

One of my most memorable conversations was with a young man who was a linguistic professor who spoke seven languages. When I asked him the best way to learn a new language his replay was, "Be a kid." I laughed and asked, "What's the second best?"

Those are the moments that keep me talking to strangers who unknowingly enrich my life. Like with everything else, it gets easier with practice.