.189 Nicole Tj & Thomas Lo
Were it not for a batman sticker that I have on my laptop, Nicole, Thomas and I would probably never have met. It was February 2016 and I was sitting by myself in a coffee shop in Melbourne, Australia. Thomas and Nicole struck up a conversation with me and I was immediately hit by their genuine curiosity, kindness and incredibly bright minds. In my head, a friendship was the only logical next step.
Honestly though, something about Nicole and Thomas felt different when I spoke to them that day. They were so honest and open, refreshingly so, and it didn’t take long for me to understand how unbelievably talented they were (are), as musicians, entrepreneurs, and as human beings. They were just as curious of me as I was of them, and they were incredibly supportive of my own dreams and ambitions. Meeting them made me feel seen and comforted in a way that I had been missing and desperately needed. One of my favorite parts of them as a unit is how they so clearly feed off of each others ideas and energy. It’s inspiring to watch and be around, which is one of the many reasons that I was so grateful to see them barely two months later, only this time on a TEDx stage in Washington, DC. Our friendship is a constant reminder to me of the possibilities in life when it comes to strangers becoming friends and how even the quickest of conversations can change your life. You just might have to step out of your comfort zone — in this case, thank goodness they did and that they said hello.
Nicole and Thomas, thank you so much for being so friendly to me and for listening when I really needed it. Thank you for being open with me about your dreams and goals and for letting me into your story. Thank you for your compassion and kindness that you so obviously put first and foremost into everything that you do. Thank you for coming to NYC and for giving me and some friends the chance to hear your insane talents. Thank you for being such lovely people and a reminder of the good in this world. I’m so grateful we met and even more so that we’re still friends to this day. Thank you both for being all that you are.
-BD