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How Many Strangers
Looking at someone, and in a sense finding a higher value in our psyche is far less common than looking at someone, and leaving that perspective untouched or even lowered. They say the slower you walk, the more you see, although all there really is to see is a fast paced world, unfamiliar with the old expression.
A stranger with nothing to say, or a friend with a billion words. Change up... A stranger with a billion words, or a friend with nothing to say. Same words rearranged into a new sentence. Two sentences, now a paragraph with a point. The point we look for in this fast paced world.
The stranger with nothing to say looks up for a brief second. Eye contact made so quick, no chance for that "good day" nod. Or in secret, that "curious glance". The one where you can't help but wonder walking past a common patron, what their story is.
Wife? Kids? Happy? Sad? Lonely? Whatever their blank expression screams. Or powerful expression is trying to hide.
But in such a brief glance, emotionless, shared with a complete stranger a connection is made. I mean how many people we don't know, do we really make eye contact with? Do we all not look down on public transit to avoid an awkward glance?
How many married to that perfect someone whom three years ago, prior to meeting exchanged that awkward and yet forgotten glance?
How many words does it really take to understand a friend? And how long a glance for a stranger to become a friend? But, in the end. Are we all not strangers? How well is it possible to know a person? A 10 second glance, 3 years later married and kids. A 12 second glance disregarded. But, that first glance. The one no one remembers. The first form in which contact is made. The brief second in which eyes meet for the first time. But this time was different. You said hi. I said hi back. Words create friendship. Turns love. Year or 2 later kids. They grow up and exchange their own glances. A beautifuly vicious cycle.
Every disregarded glance, an unturned stone. Too heavy maybe. But, when a glance meets words, and an exchange of names. You're no longer strangers. Are you? And, sometimes I guess you can't help but wonder if you ignored the glance from the love of your life. Or the person who would've killed you...
