Longing
Before, I might have been a little offended if someone saw me walking towards them and moved onto the road to create a wide berth.
Now I see it as a mutual act of care. It says "I'm protecting you, you're protecting me." I make a point of waving and saying hi to people I pass. That connection is nice, but I find myself feeling a sense of longing for others. Some of it seasonal (because winter 😭), some of it circumstantial (because pandemic).
Because writing things out is how I better understand and process my emotions, I made a list and I'm sharing some of my feelings of longing here in case you feel them too:
✨Smelling someone's perfume or cologne when you walk past them. This one is hit or miss for me as I'm sensitive to smells, but sometimes it's nice to receive the messages people leave behind with their choice of scent.
✨ Lingering. Maybe it's at the counter in a cafe or bar, maybe it's taking your time in the grocery store, maybe it's sticking around to chat after a yoga class. It's enjoying the experience of a place with no pressure to be in and out quickly, with time to absorb and observe.
✨The feeling of shared connection that comes from witnessing moments with strangers. Smiling at a parent whose baby does something cute. Laughing with a stranger about the over-enthusiastic way their dog has greeted you. Thanking someone for taking off their backpack as you squeeze past them on a streetcar.
✨The vibrant, buzzy energy of your favourite bar or restaurant. The music, the din of excited conversations from neighbouring tables, the smell of food. The sound of glasses clinking as someone makes a toast. The heady, sensory experience of being on the verge of a nice evening.
✨That feeling of a Friday in June at golden hour on a patio. At that time, summer feels like a new lover, hopeful and full of promise.
✨That warm, cozy feeling of hearing people singing along to the same song. Maybe it's at a concert or the national anthem at a sports game.
What experiences of longing would you add to this? Leave a comment here or meet me in my stories 🥰💕