Living Life Loudly

I’m a people watcher.  It’s not only entertaining but you learn a lot.  People reveal a lot about themselves by the way they move, the way they interact, the way they navigate what’s going on around them.  One of the positive things about being an introvert is that often I tend to stay in the background to watch and listen.  It gives me the ability to pick up on subtle nuances of behavior.  I like to read the room before I engage.  I also like to have time to think before I respond, which can sometimes make conversation with people I don’t know feel awkward.  Big gatherings where I don’t know anyone and have to make small talk are something I try to avoid at all cost.   

We’ve all probably had those times of sitting on a bench in a busy place watching the people go by.  Some meander, some walk like they have somewhere important to be, some look deep in thought, others are smiling or talking to someone, some are so intent on their phone screens that you wonder how they don’t crash into something. Sometimes you can read their mood just by their body language and facial expressions.  I always smile at people who make eye contact, hoping they don’t actually start talking to me. 

Being a people reader, I sometimes find that what someone is saying does not necessarily match up with what they are doing.  If you take the time to watch and listen, you begin to pick up on little behaviors that reveal character.  An example is someone who talks a big game, but it’s very much to hide their insecurities.  Ever know someone who uses humor to cover their true feelings about someone or a situation?  We all know that person who talks about what they own or what they’ve accomplished instead of anything personal about feelings or relationships.  There are those who want to be acknowledged or receive recognition for their “generosity”, and if they don’t get it, they will point it out. 

As I observe the people I come into contact with, I am most inspired by those who invest themselves into doing for others or taking on things that no one else wants to do without any desire for recognition.  You know, the humble servants among us.  You never hear about a lot of what they do because they don’t talk about it, they just go about doing it.  They take on the dirty jobs when no one is looking.  The give anonymously. They see a need and quietly meet it.  Their reward is not something tangible, it’s a satisfaction that can only be felt in the heart. 

Who are those quiet souls around you who bless people and never strive for reward, not even a “thank you”?  I have a feeling their reward is a confidence that they are making life a little better or even a lot better and don’t need to be told they are.  They know they are the hands and feet of God and that’s all the thanks they need. 

Being a writer, of course words are important to me and I hope the writing is an encouragement to those who read. But even more, I hope I “practice what I preach”. The other day I encountered a quote that I wrote in my journal so I wouldn’t forget it.  It’s something William Channing said, “May your life preach more loudly than your lips.”  The way we live speaks volumes more than anything we say.  Words can be helpful, but living out what we believe carries far more weight.  I want to strive to speak quietly and live loudly.  Hopefully my thoughts can become actions without ever having to say a word, and perhaps the way I live my life will be all I will need to say.