Walking on a busy sidewalk I notice humans. The same sidewalk rarely sees the same people twice unless they live close by. It is especially interesting if you see the same person more than once on the same day at different times. Their gait, behavior, human emotions, gestures and everything that could possibly be HUMAN reflects what they feel at that moment. One man for instance, because of his own mistake had a miserable day at work. But he loves the fact that he is with his wife and children who love him despite his shortcomings. His eyes are shining with little tears of happiness and a fake smile reminding him of another work-day ahead. One woman, loves her job beacuse she works hard and gets promoted but goes home to a drunk who beats her and does not appreciate her prescence. She has a smile on her face for the promotion, and tears in her eyes as the smile will only last until she goes back home. But this is not what I notice anymore.
I was driving to work one morning and noticed the road ahead of me. Unsual, but there was lery less traffic. I sped through the turn to make it to the signal before it turns red and I thought to myself "today is not going to be a green day". As I waited, I simply looked into the rear-view mirror to see if my hair looked ok. Its weird but I am not used to looking into the vanity mirror in cars with the automatic light. I feel it is very feminine or maybe I'm too lazy to pull it down. As I straightened out my hair I looked into the car behind me. There was a couple in a nice Lexus. The guy was wearing shades although it was not sunny. He was on his phone. I guessed it was something important. His view was not straight to the road nor to his better half. He was facing the opposite side. I guessed from the effort that he was putting in that he was not really happy with the conversation. I looked at the lady sitting next to him holding and pressing her forehead in frustration. I just could not conclude what was wrong or maybe my vivid imagination was simply acting up and making me think harder whereas there was actually nothing wrong. The traffic light turned green.
Next I stopped at another traffic light. My inner human "RIGHT" was telling me not to look in the rear-view mirror because it was "WRONG" to see people in a state of unawareness that someone is watching. I murdered "RIGHT". This time there was a middle aged man in a Toyota Corolla. It was difficult to understand what he was upto. He was restlessly looking out of the window. I was wondering if he was looking for an address, or a friend. As the traffic light turned green his face showed a sense of satisfaction as if the green light would set him free. He stopped at the bus stop and picked up a customer. He was a private cabbie.
I do this on and off now - see the rear view mirror. 
It fascinates me.
I dont jump to conclusion about someone's behavior because it is after all a rear-view "MIRROR" image of the person. Does not necessarily have to be correct. I just notice and try to understand the human behavior in its full glory. After all we are ourselves only if we know no one is watching and no one is hearing. The rest of the time what we see and what we let other's see is just a rear view mirror.
6 comments:
First of all, though I don't know what "Cogito, Ergo Sum" means, but I think "Khayal" was better.
The article is interesting, but you know while reading it I was appreciating your writing more than what you actually wrote. I totally agree with you that there is a philospher, a writer and a poet in you .... unleash it ...
Ok I found out what "Cogito, Ergo Sum" means. Simple and beautiful indeed! But I still think "Khayal" is better as people will not have to google it to know what it means :)
Khayaal is a very old nick that I use and I started using "Cogito, Ergo Sum" when I had penpals. So the latter is much older. However, both in many ways define this blog appropriately and I like both and I think I will keep switching between the two on and off. If nothing, people will learn something new :).
Check out the image by opening in a new window. I tried to put a meaning in there as well. I wanted to do more but then I was bored.
Well could not exactly get the meaning in there! Are you talking about "Peace within Alvi"(which I found pretty interesting) or what you wrote about your space?
You know by saying that you are bored while in the middle of something shows out of those three things you lack "persistence" the most!
Peace within is just the beginning. It has to be achieved but I am still a long way. But I have certainly given it a start.
I certainly lack persistence. I feel I will get bored of everything in life. However, I did lack the urge to make a start, even if it was a small thing like blogging. But I did start. To me this is just a start to finding peace within. I do realize that there is a long way to go.
Getting bored of everything in life? Well yeah I guess that is nothing but human nature. But as that urge came, the persistence might come with time as well. All the best!
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