In HIS Shoes
In His Shoes: Date While You Wait
Do you ride the subways in New York City on a daily basis? Are you tired of scrolling through your phone or just people watching as you patiently wait for the next train? Well Thomas Knox has just the solution for you. Enter Date While You Wait, a pop-up experience in which Thomas engages some of New York City’s finest in conversation during an old school board game. Here’s the catch though…it doesn’t cost a thing. There’s no cup for donations and he’s not asking for tips. This is just Thomas’s way of giving back to his community and making new connections in the process.
In Her Shoes: What inspired you to launch Date While You Wait?
Thomas: I launched Date While You Wait based on a conversation I had with a friend about her commute and how negative her experience was getting home each day. I wanted to do something positive to give back to the community and challenge people to think differently. I thought it was important to create something that gave people the ability to share their stories and do so in a unique way. In the age of “social” media, sometimes we forget the importance of human interaction and the power it has in our lives.
In Her Shoes: What is one of the most memorable experiences you’ve had on this journey?
Thomas: One of the most memorable experiences I’ve had so far was meeting a women who had Fibromyalgia disease. She was an educator and had to stop teaching because this disease was taking over her life and she was constantly in pain. She sat with me for about 30 minutes and right before she got up to leave, she reach over to me and said “This is the first time I’ve been without pain since I was diagnosed. Thank you so much for the date.” I was almost in tears.
In Her Shoes: What are your thoughts on dating apps like Tinder?
Thomas: Dating apps create a very unique experience. They generate a way to connect without the initial connection/conversation. I prefer face to face interaction. I like to look into the person’s eyes and see that they are engaged in our conversation. I love eye contact and noticing someone’s body language when they are interested. There’s no better feeling then having someone who is genuinely interested in what you’re saying and watching their eyes are light up as you say it.
In Her Shoes: Can you tell us about any love connections that have been made via Date While You Wait?
Thomas: I haven’t had any yet. DWYW has been primarily focused on connecting with different types of people from all walks of life. No love connections yet, but I’m definitely open to it.
In Her Shoes: What is a day like in Thomas Knox’s shoes?
Thomas: A day in my shoes is all grind. As a native New Yorker, that’s all I know. I usually wake up, grab breakfast and listen to a podcast about business development or Black excellence. I spend some time responding to anyone who has reached out and head to my 9-5. After that I normally head to a nearby Starbucks and spend about 2.5 hours creating workflow for DWYW, looking at locations throughout the MTA and other cities to figure out where I should do the next. I also look into what organizations or businesses I feel might be interested in collaborating. I believe my purpose in life is to give back to our communities and create/innovate to develop opportunities for our youth. That’s where my heart is, it’s truly my passion.
In Her Shoes: What’s next? What do you have up your sleeves for Date While You Wait that we should be looking out for?
Thomas: We are working on so much. I’ve been getting a ton of questions and feedback requesting a mobile dating app, so that may be something we do. I also want to create a version of DWYW for students to connect with each other and their teachers. So honestly, the sky is the limit!
In Her Shoes: One last question. What’s your relationship status? I’m sure my readers will want to know!
Thomas: I am single. It is very important to me that the woman I’m dating inspires me. What I mean by that is, I want to be with a woman that inspires me to love her and enjoy the journey of learning how to do it well. I really want to create an epic companionship.
To learn more about Thomas and Date While You Wait follow @datewhileyouwait on Instagram!
As a New York City storyteller, filmmaker, digital content creator, and PR strategist, Renae Bluitt created "In Her Shoes" to empower and enlighten women committed to realizing their dreams.