WHEN I SEE PEOPLE - I SEE STORIES

"Whatever we perceive in the world around us reflects who we are and what we care about most deeply, as in the old saying..... 'When a thief sees a saint, all he sees are his pockets."  --  Robert Frager (USA)

I find that quite intriguing and interestingly played in a gathering of humanoids whatever the occasion may be. On this particular day my daughter and I were at a fast-food store in a mall just some minutes away from the house. While my daughter was at the queue waiting for her turn to be served, I sat at our chosen table in a corner far from the maddening crowd. Noise of any kind is undoubtedly an irritant but unfortunately that word is synonymous to mall. So there!

And now for the people......

- a woman raised her eyebrows on seeing a lady walk past her table with an attractive LV bag in her arm
- an old man frowning at the misbehaving kids in the next table
- a middle-aged woman on seeing a young man sit at the table across hers slowly yet seriously slid her handbag down to her lap
- a man with silver hair smiled through his meal apparently enjoying his time and the crowd
- an old lady with a wistful look in her eyes gazing at the happy family two tables away
- a group of teenagers still in their school uniforms having fun at their table... while one of them smiles shyly while stealing glances at the cute boy sitting opposite her
- a middle-aged couple just sitting there while waiting for their order... not talking, not looking at each other, no spark in their eyes, zombies if you ask me
- and this woman with chin cupped in her hand and looking outside the door her thoughts seemingly far away

Ah yes, when I see people..... I see stories.
And then I write.

It's a big wide world out there -- What do you see? or how do you see it?

EXTRAORDINARILY ORDINARY PEOPLE

A friend a thousand summers ago with a tiny smile on his face gave me this quote ..... 'The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.' - (Jimmy Johnson)  I still remember the quote well. As for my best friend .. life took him into another direction. Well, nothing much we can do bout it when life does something like that to us. But looking back now I can say it was a good thing. God speed, amigo!

You know what.. we may not see it well or are missing it by this much... but we have extraordinary people around us and seen maybe in a grand way for some lucky souls but for those who go through life quietly and solemnly (now ain't that just too serious a word) maybe it would be just too small to be noticed too. It comes to you like the whiff of a breeze..... but a most refreshing breeze .. that is here a minute and gone in the next. But if you have learned and learned well to pay attention you will see and know it. Because that special spark is there.

Extraordinary ..... is that tiny friendly smile from a complete stranger who moves aside to give you space in an almost full elevator. Is that extra banana the fruit vendor slips into your paper bag already bursting with a kilo of nice yellow ripe bananas. Is that ear doctor who painstakingly explains your case and pleasantly assuage your anxieties about it. Is that handyman who fixes the leak in your roof and puts in a little extra finishing for free. Is that neighbor who greets a warm 'good morning' without fail every time he passes by your house on his way to work. Is that sweet wonderful person in Facebook who always finds time to drop you a warm greeting or a cheerful word or two. ......And many MANY more!

It's that little extra a person does but enough to warm a heart, calm a fear, inspire, wipe away a tear, lighten up the day, make someone feel special, give hope, restore faith, or help somebody regain that which was almost lost.

It's just a little extra.. for you maybe BUT to the person you gave it to ----- it's more than enough!... it's everything! it's the world!

Blessings to you, extraordinary all!