Strangers are also a source of information.

The importance of being able to approach people to ask for information is undeniable. It is important to our self-esteem, our ability to move around to reach our destination as well as to gather information of one kind or another.

Many people can talk and talk to their relatives and their friends, to the people they are familiar with but when they are outside among strangers, they are unable to reach out to others to perform whatever is required by asking for information.

I have been with a guy who drove round and round to reach a place but was unable to. I told him to stop at any place to enquire about its location. He was, for one reason or another, reluctant to do so. And we spent a good hour or so running around probably in circles just because of this.

Eventually, unable to withstand having to sit there watching him no nearer to the destination after so much time, I told him to stop, head for the nearest shop and made the necessary enquiries. With the proper directions given, we finally reached the place within fifteen minutes.

Imagine the amount of time lost, time which gives us no benefit as we were certainly not relaxed or resting in that traffic; we were not enjoying any scenery as we were constantly on the lookout for any landmark which could indicate that we had reached. And all it took was to approach a stranger and politely ask for some directions.

I often stop to ask whenever we felt adventurous and travelled out-station to some never before frequented place. At such times, I would often stop the car, smilingly greet a stranger to politely ask for information and thank the person. Of course, there were times when information was wrong but if we stop to confirm the information at the next junction, we can have the information corrected.

Whenever I stop to request for information I made it a point to tell my children how approachable all those strangers were. Even the person with the worst gruff exterior can be helpful in his rough, unfriendly manner. After all, he is just another human being who can feel just as good as us at being able to assist another. His gruffness could be the result of being not included in the activities at home or in society due to one reason or another. It is a protective front sometimes.

As can be seen, being able to reach out to ask for information is very necessary at certain times in our lives and our children ought to be taught from young to be able to approach people for assistance when necessary.