Have you ever been at the airport and just sat and watched people? Of course you have, I know I am not the only one.
It's like watching "Reality TV" playing out in front of you. Better than the Real Housewives, and even the Jersey Shore. You get a variety of stories, a variety of personalities, but your own dialogue.
I love just sitting there, drinking my coffee, staring out at the crowd of people walking by. As they walk briskly, slowly, purposefully, doubtfully by - I wonder, where are they going? Who are they going to see? Will it be a happy trip? A vacation? A hometown reunion? Do they want to go? Do they have to go? etc. People are so interesting. They don't have to do anything but walk by me, and I am already immersed into their lives, for just that moment. It is incredible what little time I need to spend watching someone, to have a whole story made up about their lives, regardless if I am right or wrong about them, it's my reality show.
One young woman walked by, she had a beautiful, colorful, and flow-y dress on. Her shoes weren't meant to walk up and down airport hallways, they were more for a runway, or a catwalk. Too high to be comfortable, yet commanded attention by all. This young woman looked a little out of place from all the other weary, tired and comfortable clothed travelers. But I was entranced by those shoes, it was like a train wreck that I couldn't turn away from. She was alone, I wondered where her and those shoes were off to. I bet she was meeting someone wonderful at the other end of her travels, someone she hadn't seen in a while that she wanted to dress up for. Looking down at myself I realized she must be single. Low and behold her ring finger was absent of any sort of commitment. I had a whole story made up about her in 5 seconds flat!
When I turned my head I saw a family of 5. The littlest one holding his mother's hand and dragging his tiny suitcase behind him. I heard Jon say, "Look! It's Lightening McQueen!" The little boy had a Lightening McQueen pull along backpack. Jon has Thomas the Tank Engine, I think I may need to upgrade Jon's carry on bag. The family looked tired, the father looked like he was ready for the trip to be over while the 2 other children dragged their belongings along from behind and kept swatting at each other. It made me think back to when I was little and my family used to travel. I still don't know how my parents traveled with the 5 of us kids and kept it together. But that in itself is a whole other story.
You can learn a lot about yourself, by watching other people. I know I have. Just by sitting quietly in my own world, watching others I have learned how tolerant, understanding, helpful, anxious I can be. How can watching other people teach me all of that, you ask? Well, I am tolerant to people that are not like me, and it has made me truly realize how wonderfully unique and individual we all are. I am understanding to those who need space, room, and time to breathe (while traveling). I am helpful when I notice someone has a question, but everyone else walks by them. I am anxious about my own traveling fears, yet keep them to myself, so as not to worry anyone else.
People watching while traveling is great... People watching in general is just something I love to do, like I said, it is my Reality TV and it's free!
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