Humanity

A Few Moments Outside of Myself

The personal lives of strangers rarely concern us

Photo by Yin Wong on Unsplash

Yesterday I took my wife to a medical appointment just outside of Boston. Getting there required driving off-highway through long city streets, many turns, many traffic lights. I mindlessly followed the GPS, robotically turning at its advice. My wife was quiet, tired from the pain that keeps her awake at night. I was left to my own thoughts.

Pedestrians crossed at every light, some warily, some preoccupied, some chatting with friends, some looking thoughtful, happy, or sad. I’d see a face and wonder what they were thinking, where they were headed, what their day was like.

For most of that trip, I was outside of myself, seeing the others, imagining their minds. A woman with chin firmly set chin seemed to will traffic to notice her. A slim young man carrying a skateboard glancing quickly at the crossing signal while an older man walked toward him with eyes turned downward. A trio of men led by a resolute young woman as she partially turned her head to talk to them.

Heads up, heads down. Smiling, laughing, frowning. Each person had a story hidden from me, ambitions, worries, triumphs, sorrows. Cautious people, oblivious people. Lives beginning with the lively steps of youth, lives trailing off…