I really can’t believe I haven’t written about what I’m about to write about yet. This has to be something that I think about on a daily basis, so as I lie in my dark room this morning I find myself wanting to write about it.
I vividly remember riding the subway in New York when I was eleven, not removing my sunglasses once underground. My grandpa turns to me asking, “Why the sunglasses inside?”
I just wanted to be able to stare at people without them knowing. While some might find this creepy, I don’t think of it in that way. . I guess I’m just deeply fascinated with people. The way they talk, walk, dress, behave, react, think, and so on and so forth.
A small wave of a small sadness will come upon me in times of the realization that there will be so many people that I will never meet, know, or see. The fact that God has made so many individual, unique people a million times over, intrigues me so much. Out of the 6 billion people on earth, not one is an exact duplicate of another. Sure, we’ve all come across others who remind us of a good friend. Mannerisms may be similar, or they might have the same gate as you see them walk away, but they aren’t that person that you know. Still completely different.
And it’s this fascination of sorts that makes me who I am. Nothing makes me happier than meeting a new person, be it just a friend of a friend whose conversation is brief, someone I look up to, or a favorite musician whose show I finally saw.
Often times as I’m driving or riding my bike, I wonder about that person who just walked across the street in front of my stopped car. Where are they going? What’s their name? Are they happy? I have to be a bit more careful about this while I’m sitting alone in one of the big armchairs in Radina’s, or when I’m watching kids walk into the lecture hall. Staring is always a little weird, no matter what.
Through my constant observation and awareness of the people surrounding me, I’ve found that I always seem to know people before they know me. Plenty of times, I’ve finally met someone who I always see in the cafeteria or in my dorm daily when they’ll say, “Oh, so you live here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.” Now, I used to take offense to this until I realized that maybe not everyone was this way.. Not everyone takes notice at every pedestrian who crosses the street.
This is actually something that I like about myself. If I didn’t have such an interest in the human race and the psychology behind it, I wouldn’t be outgoing like I am. I’m always willing to talk to a new person; a stranger. In fact, this used to be a “problem” of sorts when I was little. I never could “never talk to strangers” like they always preached in preschool. Talking to and learning about strangers has always been one of my favorite activities.. And maybe this is why I shamelessly love facebook so much.
So now, if you haven’t already, I’d urge you to step outside of your comfort zone/social box/shyness/whatever holds you back, and maybe strike up a conversation with someone new, even if you’re intimidated by them or worried as to what it is they’ll think of you. Even though I find myself being extremely outgoing at times, I still tend to be painfully self-conscious or worried about others views of me. I try to not let it stop me, realizing that in talking to that person or getting to know that stranger I might learn great things, go on some adventures, or open up to some new ideas.
I just feel like there are so many people on this earth around me with so much to offer that I don’t want to take them for granted. So in conclusion, I want to know about you.. her, him, them, and us.
Peace.
la fin.
