Week 1, Entry 8

[goatgodschild]

Observations On Week 1 Friday Bus Trip

I went on the bus to try go to the next town over to run the following errands:

• Get exercise shoes for martial arts class
• Get black sweatpants for martial arts class
• Renew state identification card
• Get new mp3 player
• Get library card to second library
• Look for a place to get a haircut, and, if possible, get one

 

During this, I worked to extend my empathy to as many people as possible, and recognize humans as part of myself, and myself as part of humanity. Furthermore, I worked to view all humans around me as nonthreatening, to not display myself as someone to not fuck with, because nobody is trying to fuck with me.

They’re just nice.

There’s so many people. And they’re all just kinda nice? They’re off doing their own things, just trying to get through their day. All these people have hopes and dreams and interests and things they like and hobbies and favorite stories, and they were all babies once, and it’s bonkers.

None of them, not a single person on multiple bus trips, into the Target, across the big parking lot, into the Best Buy and the DMV and back out to the main drag – not a single person that entire time were looking at me as a threat, or somebody they were going to have to show who was boss.

It was very hard work, and I was very tired afterwards, as this was a five-hour excursion.

It’s slow going, recognizing everyone as kind and safe and part of myself as I am part of them, to extend empathy to all of them, but I figure it’s just a matter of practice.