I could be wrong but I think people underestimate how pleasant it is to see someone just having a good time. It always brings a smile to my face to see people doing things like this, or dancing, or some other joyful activity.
At a pub recently, a woman who was also queuing for a drink was bopping along to the background music, and she started singing a lil. I reflexively looked in her direction, which seemed to cause her to stop singing, presumably out of self consciousness. I was devastated that I had inadvertently impeded her ability to have fun.
I decided that I would start humming along to the music in a low key way, in hopes that she would feel less silly, and perhaps even think “the woman who looked over at me was just someone else who enjoys this song”. After a few minutes, she started singing again. Maybe it was nothing to do with my actions, but I was delighted nonetheless.
There were no direct interactions between me and the singing woman. I received my drink and left the area. On reflection, it was a very British interaction
The double takes I get when I heely across a parking lot fuel me. I gotta be nonchalant about it of course but sometimes I get a “YO HOLY SHIT” reaction and I gotta give em a shit eating grin.
I think its just really freaking hard to internalize that fact for whatever reason. I’m 100% with you that it makes my day to see someone lost in a moment of joy like that, but the idea of being caught in one myself is mortifying. It makes no damn sense!
I could be wrong but I think people underestimate how pleasant it is to see someone just having a good time. It always brings a smile to my face to see people doing things like this, or dancing, or some other joyful activity.
At a pub recently, a woman who was also queuing for a drink was bopping along to the background music, and she started singing a lil. I reflexively looked in her direction, which seemed to cause her to stop singing, presumably out of self consciousness. I was devastated that I had inadvertently impeded her ability to have fun.
I decided that I would start humming along to the music in a low key way, in hopes that she would feel less silly, and perhaps even think “the woman who looked over at me was just someone else who enjoys this song”. After a few minutes, she started singing again. Maybe it was nothing to do with my actions, but I was delighted nonetheless.
There were no direct interactions between me and the singing woman. I received my drink and left the area. On reflection, it was a very British interaction
The double takes I get when I heely across a parking lot fuel me. I gotta be nonchalant about it of course but sometimes I get a “YO HOLY SHIT” reaction and I gotta give em a shit eating grin.
I caught a woman rocking out in her car in traffic and maintained eye contact until she saw me.
Then we both smiled.
I think its just really freaking hard to internalize that fact for whatever reason. I’m 100% with you that it makes my day to see someone lost in a moment of joy like that, but the idea of being caught in one myself is mortifying. It makes no damn sense!