... opportunities ...

One of the things about spending time in public places, like coffeeshops, is that you can see the same people regularly. Sometimes you might talk to them. Other times you might notice they simply want to be alone. You have to "read" the way in which others seem to be - read their body language, read their facial expressions, read their eyes. If someone had been reading me today, they would have left me alone - headphones on, my head being propped up by both hands as I stared down at the papers in front of me, my eyes wandering out the window occasionally to notice the wind whipping up and causing the drops of rain to move in sideways waves. You would have seen me surrounded by a whole host of people coming in and out of the shop, but me not even noticing them.

Yet, when you go to a public place often and regularly enough, other regulars might sense you need a kind word or an ear to vent to. Today, a young couple I see often was working in the shop. We waved a hello and did a quick nod of acknowledgement when I snagged my drink, but then I was off to my table and my own little world. As they left the shop, they had to walk past me, "How are you doing?" "How was that project you were working on?" and more followed for a good 15 minutes. During that conversation we talked about the creative process, about collaboration, about the importance of downtime, about interactive narratives, about the next projects and vision we have for ourselves. It was a quick, but needed break. It was a chance to think beyond myself and my own thoughts. It was a chance to connect.

I should mention here that they are a married couple in their mid- to late-20s, and they have their own graphic design business. For awhile they were working on the graphics for a band's music video. For another period of time they were working on graphics for a video game. Today they were brainstorming and spitballing ideas for future projects - more corporate projects - gigs that will help them sustain their business and, you know, help to pay for food and clothes and a home.

This post isn't a quick one, nor does it have some snappy overheard snippet. Instead, I simply want to acknowledge that public places, like coffee shops, create opportunities - even brief ones - for strangers to look out for one another. I want to acknowledge that routines can add up to something more than what they appear to be in the moment. I simply want to say thanks to that couple for the generosity they shared in taking a few minutes to check in with me, a guy who sits a couple of tables away from time-to-time.

--
Maggie and Will in Stranger than Fiction