I love talking to people—I learned it from my dad who will strike up a conversation with anyone he meets. Over the years, I’ve crossed paths with some pretty fascinating people who’ve done things like swim the English Channel, adopted six special needs children, and complete a 1,000 mile bike relay being paralyzed from the chest down. Once on a flight, I met a former professional tennis player whom I assumed was “just a mom.” People are fascinating when you get to know them!

So how do you become a fascinating person? Here are some starting points.

8 Ways To Be a Fascinating Person

1. Travel

Traveling gives you a unique perspective on life. It provides you with rich experiences and invaluable opportunities that you’d never get in the comfort of your home town. People who travel are fascinating because of what they’ve seen, the places they’ve visited, and the stories they’ve gathered along the way.  {Photo credit: Cristi Dame. Read about her travels to Thailand and Nepal.}

2. Be Yourself

Think about some of the most fascinating people you know. What probably makes them interesting is that they are completely and unapologetically themselves. Fascinating people don’t conform to what they think others want them to be. Stand on your own two feet. Be yourself because that’s who people really want to get to know.

3. Have an Active Lifestyle

Go-getters are not only more physically healthy than their sedentary counterparts, they are more interesting too. Strive to be active in all aspects of life—physically active, socially active, and intellectually active. If you want to be an interesting person, live an interesting life. Run that marathon, book that off-shore excursion, volunteer at that soup kitchen, and actively look for ways to meet new people and have new experiences.

4. Be Adventurous

Intriguing people are adventurous in the fact that they are willing to try new things. Their excitement for life is infectious. You don’t have to jump out of airplanes or climb Mount Everest to have an adventurous spirit. Attempt something new, even if it’s a bit scary or out of your comfort zone and be quick to laugh off any missteps or failures—those actually make for some of the best stories!

5. Be Happy

Happy people are fun to be around. We gravitate to them because they exude good vibes and make us happy too. Some of the most interesting people are optimistic, self-assured, and humorous. If you want to be a fascinating person that people want to be around, find your happiness and share it.

6. Have a Passion

I recently met a woman whom the more I talked to, the deeper her layers went. She’d had a severely handicapped son who passed away when he was 21 and since then, she became passionate about helping kids in similar circumstances. She’s traveled to orphanages and facilities around the world, volunteering her time and love.

If you have a passion, it shows and inspires others around you too.

7. Read!

The benefits of reading mount up fast. Reading not only boosts cognitive skills, it increases your emotional intelligence too. Reading, both fiction and non-fiction, increases a person’s empathy as they put themselves in various characters’ circumstances. Good readers excel at human interactions and can confidently express themselves in a conversation.

8. Be a Good Conversationalist

The coolest people never just talk about themselves. They listen, ask questions, and show earnest interest in the answers. Being a good conversationalist means looking up to really connect with people. Ask about their jobs, their interests, their history, and find connections in your own life. Learn names and use them; people appreciate that. Being a good communicator makes you interesting to talk to.

So the next time you’re waiting in an office lobby or at an airport, strike up a conversation. It’s the best way to meet other fascinating people just like you.