In my free time, I like going to a public area, sitting on a bench and observing people who walk past me. Although it sounds like something a stalker would do, this act in which I partake at least a few times a week is actually one that is therapeutic. My life, like everyone else’s, is crazy, tiring, stressful and sometimes even overbearing. I’ve tried everything to clear my head when I feel this way – I’ve tried running, which sometimes helps but half the time I’m too lazy. I’ve tried listening to calm music but the lyrics almost always make me think about life. I’ve also tried sleeping but my thoughts always overpower my urge to actually go to sleep. Whenever I feel down, stressed, tired or overwhelmed, I go and people watch. It’s a therapeutic action that I always end up going back to.
What is people-watching? It seems self explanatory – you watch people. But there is much more to it than that. People-watching is the act of discreetly observing the actions and lifestyles of other people in order to gain knowledge about ourselves and the world around us. We’re observing the way everyone else handles life, lives life, and partakes in life. We watch other people’s reactions to the world outside of them – the way they walk, talk and listen, and where their life is headed. We tend to observe, learn and get inspired.
Everyone we ever see has a lifestyle much different than ours. It is an amazing thought to be able to view other people’s lives even if all we know is what we see. To me, that is the most exciting part of it all. Although I don’t personally know any of the people I’m observing, I can learn much about them just from the way they appear. I can create a story for these people, making this whole process therapeutic.
Therapy is defined as some sort of treatment, specifically one for mental or physical means. People-watching is a treatment itself—by watching other peoples’ struggles, their joyous moments or their depressing facial expressions, we can treat our own emotions.
Selfish might be a way to describe it but by observing those around me, I can get my own mind off things that I’ve been worrying about. Similar to being immersed in a book or a movie, people watching can help us forget about our worlds and enter those of others. Viewing the things that other’s are doing can provoke our minds to relax and forget about the problems we are facing. For a moment, we can be lost while still knowing our whereabouts.
Inspiration is also a product of people-watching. After attending a Nets vs. Bulls game a few weeks ago, I tended to focus on the people around me as much as the actual basketball game. Especially during half-time where wealthy New Yorkers would be leaving their court side seats to purchase the entire Nets store, I would watch them all. I would observe what people were wearing, the people they were with and the life they seemed to live. Specifically, I noticed many young men who wore tailored suits. Although I could be wrong, the story I put behind each of them was that they were all out for a basketball game after a long day at work. They worked, they made money and now they’re able to attend a Nets game while sitting less than 50 feet away from each player. I also saw young wealthy couples who went to this game as a casual date night. I observed them and thought about who they were, what they were doing there and why they were there. After thinking about it all, I realized that they all inspired me to be able to live a life similar to theirs. After being exposed to their lavish lifestyles, I was inspired to have a future where I can wear the same things and do the same things as them.
There are also times where I observe others and feel sympathetic towards them. It is a gift to be able to see others less fortunate and to be able to feel the impact of their circumstances. Watching homeless people on my way to Starbucks is now a daily ritual but even though I pass by the same 45-year-old man wearing rugged slip ons, I still observe him every time. Seeing his lifestyle makes me appreciate mine, which is therapy in itself. By viewing the way he lives, I feel gratified and I tend to let go of the pointless "problems" that I think I have in my life. This act makes me feel grateful since it forces me to appreciate what I have after seeing what other’s don’t have.
There’s also a fun aspect to people-watching. It is great to discreetly watch someone as they embarrassingly trip and think that no one saw them. It is even better seeing a couple on their first date and noticing the awkward tension between the two. The best part of this humor is that you share it with no one but yourself—you saw it, you think about it and you laugh to yourself. When the moment is over, no one else mentions it and onto the next thing to observe. This process is fun because you get to share it with your mind only so the amusement is all for yourself.
If you’re ever feeling like you need to be revived, go outside to a public setting and observe the people who walk past you. You will either be able to get your mind off your own problems, feel inspired, be gratified or amuse yourself. It is a therapeutic act that will be different each time, making it even more enticing.
