This past Labor Day, I took a trip out to the falls. I misjudged the busyness of the falls, and when I arrived, the entire area was hosting quite the number of people.
On this trip, I went alone. The plan was to climb to the top of the fall and sit on the rock that overlooks the drop and the bank it flows into, and to read some assignments for class. Instead, I only read maybe one act of my play, spoke to people for longer than I intended, and naturally, people watched.
People watching is such a funny concept that has become fairly socially accepted. While I sat on my little perch, I watched as people talked and took pictures for each other. Everyone smiling and watching out for each other as they climbed over rocks and through the baby currents. It reminded me of the holiday season or a festival. The atmosphere had such a connec
ted, interpersonal feeling. I sat there and thought about everyone and how they were interacting.
I realized if we were all in a mall or somewhere just as goal oriented, hardly anyone would be stopping to say a small hello to a passerby. People would not be as open as they are on a beautifully sunny day, or at a festival. Honestly, that made me kind of sad. I recognize everyone has their own agenda. I’m okay with people being busy, but for it to have to be a special event, or Labor Day in an exciting park of strangers to connect with each other bums me out.
Picture this: everyone interacting and doing small actions to connect with one another. Anywhere and any day of the year could be special. I’m not saying you should be late to every meeting because you stopped to say hello to every single person. I don’t think it should have to be the place or time or the year dictating the atmosphere. As Pittacus Lore said, “A place is only as good as the people…it’s the people that make the place.”
We each are more than capable of making any place special for anyone, and that in itself is a beautiful power we all hold.
