People watching

“As I write this, I am seated at a bench between the back of Main Quad and the front of Green Library. To give myself time to think, I decided to walk to class, and to further clear my mind, I took a seat on this bench in the sunny Stanford weather. I was intending to work on an essay, but I got lost. Lost in the people riding by on their bikes, the tourists snapping pictures, the staff going about their everyday business. [...] Watching people go by instead of writing my essay or studying for my midterms might be unproductive, but it is strangely calming. Sitting down, looking around and observing these surroundings, writing them down; this is a relaxing experience. I realize it’s a sort of mindfulness.”

“I am a people watcher for sure, and today was no different. While I was sitting in Thompson library, clearly easily distracted, I figured it would be the perfect time to actively note my observations of the different forms of communication I saw. I spent about 30 minutes on and off trying to look at (but not stare for too long at) peoples’ communication behaviors. I saw many people verbally communicate through physically talking or whispering to someone nearby, as well as speaking to someone on the phone. The most common type of communication I saw was nonverbally through technology. Whether it was texting on phones or communicating on their laptops with one another, people were constantly viewed communicating through technology.”