I don’t smoke, drink, do drugs, gamble, or have any other popular addictions. I used to enjoy a day of shopping much more than I do these days. I love chocolate, cheese, and bread of any kind. I do love my music too. I never really do anything to the extreme, do anything that breaks the bank, or that’s unhealthy.
I’m human so I know that I must do something too much, or something that I can’t control. There’s no way I beat the odds. Oh yes, I think way too much. It’s good and bad and gets me into trouble sometimes. I run my mouth here and there and always tell people what’s on my mind. My theory: take me or leave me, love me or hate me.
But, even this is not my hang up.
I have discovered what my true addiction is. I hereby declare myself a PEOPLE WATCHER! I’m sick about it. I’m really into it, can’t control it and sometimes I don’t even want to curb it.
I love to dine out. It’s the best place to watch all the people around you. You can hear conversations that are so personal and juicy. You can get so close in some of these Italian restaurants I frequent that you are practically sitting on each others laps. It’s too close for comfort for some people, even me. How dare you come into my personal bubble, but how dare you block me out of yours?
I sit there and my company will be trying to engage in conversation with me, but I am already too deep into the fight that the woman at the third table over is having with her lover. She’s accusing him of cheating and I am on his side by the main course and frankly, if I were him I would be ditching her and her dramatics by desert.
I love to see what everyone’s wearing and how they did their hair for the evening. I can’t take my eyes off the walls and I look at the décor. It’s safe to say I am VERY aware of my surroundings. My parent’s always told me to check out the scene everywhere I went. I’m sure I am making them proud.
Dinner out is a great place for me to get a hit or a high. But, the mall or out shopping anywhere is sometimes even better. The sights are too good for me to ignore.
I always have something or someone to feast my eyes upon. It could be an outfit that is just all wrong or doesn’t fit because it’s five sizes too small for the woman trying to squeeze her buttocks into it. Or, it’s a parent screaming at her children while she’s barely paying attention to the little rascals as they play tag and run into the knee caps of every shopper out there.
I sometimes sit and eat a slice of pizza and people watch as everyone takes main stage for me without even knowing it.
I do believe this started when I was a kid. I’m placing the blame on my mom. It’s her fault because she is the same way.
We are not sitting on our thrones placing judgment on common folks and being cruel. We simply can’t help ourselves from staring at strangers.
People watching really is a bad habit, or bad addiction. I can’t stop myself. I have had friends and family call me out on it and get mad at me because they think I am not paying attention to them and I am neglecting their company.
Well, that just irks me because I will have you all know that I can MUTLITASK! I get it done. I am listening to my companion and taking mental notes of the two side tables, front, and back ones too.
The other night I was out and right behind me sat a lovely young couple and the girl’s mother and father. It was obviously the first meeting for the young man and his girlfriend’s parents.
They were so annoyingly proper with their speech and it was such a show. I couldn’t see their faces because they were behind me, but I still got the entire evening agenda and a lot of laughs.
They even got my company’s attention and my boyfriend started speaking like an English man all night long. We had such a fun time and we all wanted a spot of tea after our dinner. Mummy and Daddy must have been so pleased with their little darling and her suitor. I was laughing so hard by the time we called it a night! Cheerio!
I didn’t know if I should be horrified with myself or happy that I have the ability to help others tune in and be just as nosey or rude as I am sometimes.
Either way, you know you all do it too. You might not get so deep into like I do, but you do it. It’s human nature. We watch, we listen, and we do.
Why do you think Facebook is so popular? It’s complete voyeurism and most of us are addicted to it.
I wish I would have come clean with my addiction many years ago because maybe, just maybe I would be sitting atop the 25 billion dollar throne of the Facebook Empire.
Instead, I people watch everywhere I go. I’m not making any money but I’m not losing any either. If I had to ditch my addiction I would be bored to tears. But, if I had to pick a hobby I do believe this is one to watch. And, fortunately for me, watching is what I seem to do best with my time.
