August 10, 2025
This past week, I have been around a lot of people in crowds. When I was younger, it would have made me nervous. The news and society conditions us to be wary of crowds and people we don't know.
I live in suburbia, so it is easy to be isolated and alone, if I want. There aren't a lot of people out and about during the day time during the work week in my neighborhood. If I am at the house writing or doing other activities, I can go the whole day with only seeing people who live with me, if I wanted. Now, I find that if I am not going anywhere special, I will make a point of going someplace where there will be people. Just to be around them.
I started thinking about this as I was on the South Shore last week riding back home with my sons after visiting the Loop and wandering around on Michigan Avenue and the Chicago Riverwalk. The sidewalks on Michigan Avenue approaching the river were packed. A restaurant where we stopped to eat lunch was a full house with a line to wait to order, receive the food, and then eat. Some tables were communal with various groups sharing the space.
Yesterday, my sons and I went to the Gary Air Show. We drove in from our city, parked at the Miller South Shore parking lot, caught a Gary Public Transporation shuttle bus to the air show, then joined the crowd eating at the food trucks, then went to the beach to join everyone looking at the airplanes roaring overhead in the sky. It was a blast to be around everyone. Even waiting in line to catch the bus back to the train station parking lot, it was fun to be around folks I didn't know.
Today I went to the laundromat with my son to wash some clothes for the week since our home washing machine needs to be repaired. The place was pretty full. But, I had the same feeling of being energized by being around people. I didn't have to talk to anyone. It was nice to just give a smile and enjoy the good vibes.
I did get my SSRIs refilled after being off of them for a few days because the provider's office was slow. I wonder if that is helping me with all the happy feelings? Or, is it all the sunshine and warm weather that has me feeling great.
Part of me thinks it is seeing that people around me are happy and friendly goes a long way to making the world, at least around me, a better place.
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