I Used To Think People Watching The World Go By Had Nothing To Do — I Was Wrong
I now realise that they are onto something quite amazing
This morning, instead of my usual meditation session sitting on a cushion inside, I headed out to sit on my deck (porch) with my cup of coffee. The sun was just rising, and the morning was cool with a promise of a very warm day ahead (it’s late spring here in Aotearoa/New Zealand).
I listened to the birds singing, and watched aerial battles as the resident tūī chased off other species he felt were invading his territory. The swooping and wheeling were breathtaking to watch. I could hear the whoosh of his wings as he chased his prey. And I admired all the different shapes, sizes and colours of the trees, shrubs and grasses that make up the typical Kiwi landscape.
In my nearly half-hour watching all of this unfold, some thoughts meandered through my mind, but mostly I was filled with a sense of awe and gratitude for the brand new day that was beginning to unfurl. I realised that I wasn’t engaging so much in meditation as I was in contemplation.
And I suddenly got an insight into an activity that has long mystified me — people who seem to just sit there, watching the world go by. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m totally partial to people-watching. I could sit around for hours watching individuals and groups pass by, and I’ll make up stories and wonder about their lives and relationships. But just watching the world, not people? I didn’t get it.
I figured that those people just didn’t have anything interesting to do with their lives. But now, after my experience this morning, I get it, and it’s got nothing to do with having nothing to do!
As you can see from the photo at the top of the story, there is a public pathway through a park just beyond our boundary. It’s busy even in bad weather, so you can imagine how popular it is on beautiful sunny days. And yet this morning, I saw only two people go past.
It was a treat to be able to take in the world around me, without seeing or talking to other people. And it was magical. Listening to and watching the breeze ruffling the leaves of the trees, while feeling it play across my skin. Watching birds hopping around, digging for worms and grubs and chasing one another off the good spots. Enjoying the company of my cats as they jumped up beside me for pats then disappeared off to investigate rustling in the garden. And savouring the exact moment I was in. It was pure bliss.
So now I get it. Watching the world go by isn’t a sign of having nothing interesting to do. As an activity, it’s downright fascinating. But beyond that, I found that taking that time of contemplation has enriched my day. I had an opportunity to observe the many signs of life that I take for granted or ignore, and I made the time to savour the peace and beauty that is always available to me.
Rather than running helter-skelter into all of the fun and boring things I had on my to-do list for the day, my moment of stillness created a foundation of ease and enjoyment. I was more conscious of the sunlight on my face when I was hanging out the washing, and took more pauses as I wrote this to stare out the window that the same view I started the day with. If this is mindfulness, then I’m all for it!
Daria Williamson is a coach, facilitator and trainer based in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand. She specialises in helping people who are stuck in a rut to get unstuck using their innate strengths and capabilities. She writes a monthly newsletter about making the human stuff at work easier, and can be found on LinkedIn, Facebook and, occasionally, Instagram.
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