People watching

Sitting in the library, I can't help but look out the window and take notice of all of the diverse people walking in and around the sidewalks. It made me start to wonder: Where is everyone going?

Just observing from a distance, everyone is going in a different direction. Everyone having their own schedule, agenda for the day with deadlines, meetings, and appointments. Some people take notice of another individual on the other side of the road and may smile or wave in acknowledgment. But, the majority of people stare at the ground beneath them and focus on their destination. What ever happened to the journey possibly meaning more than the destination? Imagine all the people we would meet if we just took the time to acknowledge their presence or flash a simple, quick smile in their direction. That simple gesture could change that person's life forever. It could change the entire outlook of their day, or possibly their entire outlook on life. Are we too good to spare a nanosecond of our lives to smile or wave or say "hello" to a fellow human being?

It is amazing how much you can learn about a person from their body language, the pace of their walk, how they walk, and their facial expressions. People who look upset or distraught walk rapidly usually with a cell phone attached to their ear. A group of friends walk in unison with matching smiles and join in laughter as they head to class. The medical student barely staying on the sidewalk because he was on call the night before and holding a starbucks cup, which is glued to his right hand.

In life we get so wrapped up in our own lives that we forget to pay attention to the world around us. It takes one nanosecond. A smile is contagious, just like an infectious disease. Wouldn't it be better to spread smiles, happiness instead of tuberculosis or an STD? I've got a hunch that the answer is yes.

Smile.