This past week I was stuck in traffic on southbound 880 at
about 6:30pm. Traffic is a rare occurrence for me. I live within 5 miles of
both of my jobs. Two consecutive stop lights are the worst of my commute. Sad
story, I know. My drive home started with waiting 10 minutes to get onto the
freeway. However, Manic Monday came
on and I started singing and dancing in my car. Traffic is fun! Thanks to The
Bangles for getting this drive off to a good start! I hit the “Scan” button on
the radio and stopped at songs that I could sing along to. I’m sure I looked
like a crazy lady in my car, but it was actually a good time.
At one point, maybe at the 880/101 interchange, I began
looking around at the drivers next me. I wondered what their day had been like.
Did they have a good day? Did anyone get a raise? Did anyone get laid off? What
were they going to do with the rest of their day? What were they having for
dinner? What were they going home to? A loving pet? A sick family member? An
abusive spouse? Some thoughts were depressing, I know. Although it got me to
think about the home I was going to. I was going home to a loving and
supportive husband. A husband who has proven countless times just how
much he cares about me and wants nothing more than for me to be happy and
successful. The worst thing I faced going home was dirty dishes and, perhaps, a
dirtier floor.
This thought sparked something in me. How awesome would it
be to document what people were thinking at any given moment? I mean, what were
you doing at 6:30pm on Thursday, August 22? What were you thinking about? What
were you happy, sad, angry, confused about? I would love to somehow collect all
these thoughts. Not sure how it can happen. How do you gather genuine and
authentic thoughts from people? My goal for this research experiment would be
to gain perspective and an awareness of other people and the lives they live. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our
thoughts, feelings, and stuff. If we’re
able to read other peoples’ stories, it would allow for us to take into account
that other people have stuff, too. The world is so much bigger than me and you.
My worries, my thoughts, my feelings, my dreams, my destination, my stuff are no more important than yours. And
yours are no more important than mine.
