I'm a watcher ... I love to look at people and think about the details of their lives. Sometimes they'll catch me staring and I want to say ... "sorry, I was just wondering what your life is like." But that would probably make them feel weird, so instead, I quickly look away. If I had one "anything" wish, I'd like to be able to embody other people, animals, & living things for a few days. It's funny, because I've always thought of myself as kind of self absorbed, and yet I continually find myself being more interested in other peoples activities, than in my own. (Maybe I just need to get a more interesting life? lol) I'm always amazed when I see people in a restaurant who have not looked around once the entire meal. They are so engaged in their conversation that nothing else matters. Is that a gift? Are people who are mainly engrossed in their own lives living more in the moment?
A great listener, I am normally not. If you happen to be dining with me at a loud, busy place, getting my complete attention is difficult ... and I have no clue as to why. Why am I so concerned with what others are up to? Strangers, who I'll most likely never know. So often, I just want to ask the ticket taker at the mall, the waiter, the sales clerk, the dentist, "What would you really like to do with your life? Are you happy? What would you have done differently?" Part of me wants these questions, at that moment, to spark something inside them and change the course of their life. Another part just wants to learn from their experience. (Oh and one part is just nosy.)
So I stare, wondering, then I feel awkward when I'm caught :) Oh well. So ... what's my point here in this little post? I would just like to be able to be more honest with everyone ... shun the social graces and ask ... what's your deal? Are you living the life you imagined for yourself when you were 8 years old? If you are ... can you show me how? Sometimes, not all the time mind you, but sometimes when I ask a random stranger, "How are you?" I wish they'd really tell me.
2 comments:
When you were a little girl, do you remember that I would have to say, "Lindsay, you are staring (with your mouth wide open)" and you would look quickly away - and now you have analyzed why........
Love you, mom
Oh, I do love to people watch. I also love to be fully engaged with whomever I am with at the time. For me, people watching is an individual activity. Your post made me think of those families I often see dining out that speak only to their server; never once to each other. Sad.
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