I meet strangers every day —
at work, in yoga class, grabbing coffee,
or just sitting on a bench at the beach.
Most people rush past each other.
But sometimes —
in the space between the rushing and the routine —
a stranger becomes a friend.
Not because we shared a job title.
Not because we swapped contact info.
But because we shared something real.
It’s not the title that connects us.
It’s the truth.
I don’t care about résumés or headlines.
I care about the story behind the eyes.
Because real connection doesn’t care
what you do for a living.
It cares who you are when you’re not trying.
Some people don’t engage.
Some keep their guard up.
And that’s okay.
Because the ones who do —
the ones who soften, open up,
and let themselves be seen even a little —
remind me that connection is still possible.
Here’s what I’m learning:
Curiosity is a strategy.
Connection is a leadership skill.
And community is the real ROI.
We don’t age out of wanting to belong.
We don’t age out of being curious.
If anything —
creative aging makes us more open, not less.
Belonging doesn’t come from knowing the right people.
It comes from noticing them.
One person at a time.
About Jean Keane
Jean Keane, Program Manager at Front Porch Communities & Services, is a creative aging advocate dedicated to building community through art, storytelling, and connection. With a background in real estate, community engagement, and program leadership, she creates spaces where older adults feel seen, empowered, and inspired to keep learning and expressing themselves. Her work celebrates belonging, creativity, and the belief that aging is not a winding down—but a deepening. Jean lives and works in coastal California, where community and creativity guide everything she does.
