Your mama may have told you not to talk to strangers, but you’re an adult now.

So why talk to strangers? Here’s five great reasons why you should chat with the barista, your cabbie or the person standing next to you in line at the airport:

1. It’s a great distraction. It’s really hard to stay wrapped up in whatever drama is happening at work or with your boyfriend when you’re talking to some random person about the latest celebrity gossip.
2. You’ll learn new things. I’ve gotten book recommendations, learned about new restaurants, found out about neighborhood politics and discovered interesting facts about far-away places from talking to strangers.
3. You’ll probably never see them again. With strangers, you can practice flirting, get a new perspective on a problem you’re facing, or get an honest opinion, all without fear of what they might think.
4. You might make a great connection. Sometimes you’ll get that missing job lead you’ve always wanted, or you’ll be able to help someone out, or you’ll end up being friends with the person who introduces you to your future husband. You never know where a random connection could lead.
5. It makes the world a friendlier place. By being friendly, you give others an opportunity to be friendly back, and 99% of the time, people welcome a chance to connect.

This week, make a point to talk to three strangers, and see how it feels. It doesn’t matter what you talk about; sometimes a genuine “How are you doing today?” is all it takes to make a connection, however brief.