The Magic of Witnessing Witnessing
I'm a people-watcher. I could literally sit for hours on a street bench, just taking in the activity around me.
Who are they? What's their story? Where is everyone going?! (This is a common thought when sitting in traffic.)
I find the mystery of it all to be captivating. Sometimes I make snap judgements, sometimes I make up empowering stories. I always make up names.
Lately, I've put words to a new kind of watching. Something I've always felt but never taken the time to understand.
It's not witnessing something great, happy, scary or moving.
It's witnessing someone else as they're witnessing something.
To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe. - Marilyn vos Savant
It's watching another soccer mom watch her son, her hands over her mouth as she waits in anticipation of knowing whether or not her son is really hurt.
It's watching the cheer coaches watch their proteges, matching move for move and smile for smile from the sidelines.
It's watching the man in the airport watching people walking by, the only one not on his phone, wondering what he's thinking about.
It's watching the woman watching the sunrise, alone on the beach, taking in the same beauty that I am.
It's watching my child watch their sibling struggle with homework, feeling their usual banter shift to empathy in real-time.
In a way, watching the watcher puts me in a meditative state. In that moment, it's no longer about me experiencing something, it's experiencing the experience of another.
It's powerful.
It reminds me how connected we actually are.
The next time something is happening around you, try not focusing on the thing itself.
Look around and notice the people around you.
See the world from their perspective.
Perhaps that's where peace can be found.
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2 天前I love people-watching. I always wonder where people are going, what they are thinking, and if they're happy/okay in their life and wonder where they're heading (if on a busy street or in an airport). Your Uncle Gary once told me that when he people-watches he always wonders what occupation each person has. I think everyone used to people watch but nowadays, sadly, I mostly see people looking at their phones instead of around them.
Business Therapist, K Communications
4 天前Yes!!
Hotel and Restaurant Management Instructor at Saskatchewan Polytechnic
4 天前I also love to watch people and make up stories about who they are and where they are going. Love this
Fractional Chief People Officer | People & Culture Coach and Leader | Business Transformation Expert
4 天前I’m always inspired reading your posts, Jen. One of my favorite things to do is watching my kids discover the world. Sharing the same moment but viewing it so differently reminds me how other perspectives can reveal new ideas, challenge assumptions, and inspire a deeper understanding of the world. ??
President at Applause Associates
4 天前What a refreshing idea Jen, thanks for your new way of looking at looking. Just observing can be a special way of learning.