I think that taking night trains or meeting someone on the road

"I think that taking night trains or meeting someone on the road is pretty romantic. I've done a couple of things like that. I've surprised someone in Paris. And hopefully, when you surprise someone, they're happy to see you." These words, spoken by John Cusack, speak to the timeless romance of travel, the serendipity of meeting new people, and the beauty of unexpected connections. The act of surprising someone, particularly in a city as romantic as Paris, invokes the kind of spontaneity and passion that makes life feel alive. It is in these moments—those of unpredictability, where the ordinary is transformed into the extraordinary—that we see the essence of romance and what it means to truly live.

In the ancient world, the idea of a journey was often imbued with a sense of destiny and romanticism. Odysseus, in the Odyssey, spent ten long years on a journey to return home, facing countless trials and challenges. His journey was not just a quest for home but for meaning, for connection, and for reunion with his beloved Penelope. Much like Odysseus, Cusack’s idea of surprising someone on the road is not just about the physical act of traveling, but about the deeper connection that is forged when two people meet in the most unexpected of circumstances. The journey, both literal and emotional, becomes a metaphor for the sacrifice, the hope, and the surprise that love often brings into our lives.

To take a night train, to meet someone on a road, is to embrace the thrill of the unpredictable. It is in these moments, far from the comfort of routine, that we are most open to the beauty of life’s surprises. The very act of surprising someone, as Cusack does, speaks to a deep desire to make the world feel alive with possibilities. Paris, the city of love, becomes the perfect backdrop for such spontaneous gestures. The surprise is not just in the act itself, but in the profound emotions it evokes—the sense of connection, the excitement of the unexpected, and the vulnerability of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. To surprise someone, to make them feel that they are the center of your world, is a form of deep romance, where emotions are expressed without fear or hesitation.

Consider the story of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, whose life was marked by romanticism and adventure. Saint-Exupéry, known for his beloved work The Little Prince, was also an aviator who spent much of his life flying dangerous mail routes across the world. In his travels, he encountered life-altering moments of connection, both with people and with nature, that shaped his understanding of the world. He, too, was captivated by the idea of surprise, the unexpected connections that shape our lives in the most profound ways. His flights, filled with peril, were as much about the emotional connections he forged as they were about the physical journey. Like Cusack, Saint-Exupéry understood that the most romantic moments are often those born of unexpected encounters, where life becomes something more than just routine, where the possibility of new beginnings and transformative love becomes tangible.

The lesson of Cusack’s words is clear: romance is not bound by tradition or convention. It is found in the spontaneity of the moment, in the surprise that brings people together across distance and time. Whether it is through a chance meeting on a train, a last-minute trip, or a heartfelt gesture, romance thrives in the unpredictability of life. Just as Odysseus and Penelope were reunited after a long journey, so too can we find love and connection in the moments that come when we least expect them. It is not the grand gestures alone that create love, but the small, unexpected moments that bring depth and meaning to our relationships.

In your own life, consider embracing the beauty of spontaneity. Surprise those you love with the unexpected—whether through a simple gesture or an adventurous journey. Take the night train. Elude routine. Step out of your comfort zone. Like John Cusack, surprise the ones you care about by making the world feel alive with the possibility of something beautiful. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to arrive; instead, create the moment by stepping into the unknown, embracing the uncertainty, and allowing romance to flourish in the most authentic and unexpected ways.

The act of surprising someone is a gift, an offering of love that transcends the ordinary. It is not in the perfection of the gesture that true romance is found, but in the heartfelt spontaneity that brings it into being. Live fully, embrace the unpredictable, and understand that it is in the most unexpected moments that the deepest connections are forged. Let each journey—whether by train, plane, or the roads less traveled—be a testament to the beautiful, unpredictable, and infinitely romantic possibilities that life offers.