the unknown

     Looking over at the older man in his late 60’s today at the gym, I wondered why he was staring at me? Is there something about me that he finds striking? Does he believe I look like a son he may have, had, or wish was in his life now? Assessing the possibilities of this situation, I could see in his eyes a sense of longing for something missing in his life. I believe it was a person, perhaps an estranged son, that he might of saw in me…I then began to look around…
     Working out is something I do daily, a healthy hobby that relieves my stress and keeps me fit. However, I once said there was this extremely high unspoken sexual tension in a gym- you have such a variety of people, all wearing such a mix of revealing/unrevealing apparel, and you have this ambiance that seems to exude "looking good." Though, after today, I have expanded my opinion. Going from a sexual atmosphere that never bothered me, considering I am a very sexual person, I started to really look around. I discovered that I was surrounded by a room full of strangers all of which I knew almost nothing about. It was great! Imagine being somewhere where judgment doesn’t exist, stereotypes are erased, and the life stories of everyone working out are unknown to you. I’m not sure why this discovery interests me so much, but in my current life being able to be surrounded by people that know nothing about me could be the most relaxing remedy to my pain.
     I see an old lady on the tredmill, I assume to be in her 70s, and I wonder if she has kids? If her husband is still alive? Or if she was a pot smoking hippy in the 70s? Or does she suffer from an unseen mental disease that just by talking to her could distort and change your entire view of this woman.
     If people ever took time to appreciate the unknown, to seek beauty in the most unlikely of places, to rediscover yourself in others, while questioning internally who they are, then maybe life wouldn’t be so hard. Just stop for a minute and look around at the people you’ve never spoken to, never looked at, never took the time to acknowledge. Jump outside the box in which your life resides in and see what else and who else is out there that can open up your mind. I relish in the idea of expanding my already openmindedness, and I cherish the times, like at the gym, where I am free to beautify strangers, thus making my world happier. Even if it’s for only an hour or two, it’s worthwhile. Surely, the 30 year old lady in her skimpy outfit could be an ex-convict, yet there is nothing wrong with assuming she is actually a mother of two and a charity worker.
     When my mom told me yesterday that life is full of worries I really began to think. Worrying about others has been the backbone of almost every decision I make. For once I would like to worry about myself, about my health, about my grades, instead of fretting over every non-personal issue my life is deluged in.