A Unique Hobby – Looking At People

Everybody Has Hobbies

Everybody has hobbies. A hobby is defined as an activity, interest or pastime that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation. Thus, even if your spare time consists of eating cookies and looking out the window, then that is your hobby.

I have several hobbies:

Spending Time With My Son. My adult son lives with me. Just experiencing our time together is an absolute pleasure.

Reading. My son and I have a personal library of over 2,000 books. I am not talking about ebooks. Our books are old school. They are mostly hard cover with bindings and pages that you turn as you read.

Net surfing. Yes, I confess. I have gone down that Wikipedia rabbit hole more times than I can count.

Watching classic tv shows on dvd’s or You Tube. Come on, how could you not like Joe Mannix?

Metaphysical studies. Digesting the content of authors such as Emmet Fox, Ernest Holmes, Neville Goddard, Stuart Wilde, et al.

Walking. The natural rhythm of one foot after the other is timeless.

Travel within the USA. I hope to get up to New England in the next five years.

Writing. I enjoy expressing what is in me with the written word.

Looking at people. You notice I use the term looking at people and not people-watching. The latter term to me denotes some type of obtrusive surveillance.

Able To Get A Sense

I have an ability to get a good feel about a person just by looking at them as they walk by. Maybe I am in a food court or an outdoor cafe. I could be walking to or from a building in a parking lot. Perhaps I am walking down a sidewalk. Even just sitting at a traffic light gives me the opportunity to look at people as they turn into my street from a left hand turn lane. There are a multitude of opportunities in any given week.

Being An Introvert Is My Destiny

I am an avowed introvert. As the saying goes, I am very comfortable in my own skin. As my life winds down to my final years, I find myself purposely engaging less and less in social interactions except those of a cursory nature. At the same time however, I find all the different types of people that I observe everyday to be fascinating. I do have an inner desire to be helpful before I depart this world. Thus, this blog, and the book that I have written, are a few examples of my acting on that desire. There are other avenues that I engage in as well.

The Eyes Reveal The Truth

While the way that a person carries himself is made up of many different facets, the eyes of a person are the most revealing. Of course, a person’s state of mind can change from one day to the next, even one minute to the next. Taking that into account, the eyes of a person are always going to be the most truthful indicator about a person. Despite what is going on in the mind, most people cannot hide what their eyes reveal (except if they are wearing sunglasses).

Twelve Different Types

In the course of my people-looking hobby, I have come up with twelve general categories. I am certain that you have encountered several of these categories. This is not a complete list by any means. With no further adieu, here is my list of observations about the people that walk by me each day.

Eyes Straight Ahead Ned

This is the guy that under no circumstances does he want any type of interaction with you. He walks from the convenience store to his car without so much as a slight look in your direction as he walks by. He is saying to himself, “I can sense that guy looking at me, maybe wanting to say good morning or something but I am just not interested. I won’t even give him so much as a glance”.

In A Hurry Terry

Terry is in a big hurry to get wherever he is going. He may be late for a date or a job interview or maybe he just has to pee. Depending on the vibes that I get, this guy may possibly be one of those guys to tailgate you in traffic and then pass you so he can get to a traffic light ten seconds faster. Terry doesn’t even see anyone else as he walks by you. He’s in a hurry.

Sneak A Peek Sammy

When I see Sammy about 15, 20 yards away, I can see that he is aware that I am looking at him. And when I say looking at him, it is merely looking in a manner that if he acknowledges me, I would simply say “Good morning” or “Howzit going” or some other brief, friendly comment. Sammy is not really interested in any of that. As he passes by however, without turning his head, he sneaks a peek over in my direction with his eyes. Then, he quickly sets his eyes squarely back on his destination without missing a beat.

Talking With Earpiece Tommy

People who wear phone earpieces are very prevalent today. When they first came out, I would always think the person would be talking to me if I was the only other person around. I would say something like, “I’m sorry, what did you say”. The person would give me an annoyed look without responding. Then I would realize that he was wearing one of those phone earpiece things. When I see Tommy coming, I understand that he is in his own little phone world. He is immersed in his conversation. Tommy wants no outside interference from passers-by.

Talking Without Earpiece Ted

This guy is one that I want to steer clear of. As soon as I see that Ted is talking but does not have an earpiece, I immediately revert to the strategy of Eyes Straight Ahead Ned. If Ted is not only talking, but shouting to himself, I make believe I forgot something in my car and start heading in the opposite direction from Ted pronto.

Happy Inside Henry

Henry is a guy that is a pleasure not only to walk past, but just to experience the vibes he sends out as he walks. This is the guy with a genuine smile in his eyes. He is a real deal happy person. If I look this guy in the eye as I am walking past, it is always met with a friendly greeting in response.

Look At Me Louie

Louie must have been ignored by his parents as a kid. Louie wants to compensate. He wants everyone around him pay attention to him. It doesn’t matter if what he is doing is genuinely entertaining or the equivalent of massive flatulence, he just wants people to look at him and acknowledge him.

A recent example occurred in the parking lot of the Wawa convenience store. Louie came into the lot riding a motorcycle that he revved to make it as loud as he possibly could. I was walking to the store’s entrance. He gave it one more unnecessarily loud rev then got off his bike. As I passed by I casually glanced at him. He had a look on his face that said, “OK everybody, here I am. Look at me”.

Don’t Look At Me Linda

The other side of the coin is the paranoid, a little bit loco en la cabeza person that does not want you to ever look at them. A recent example occurred at the library. I was there doing some peaceful research, seated at one of the long research tables. I had my laptop set up in front of me. Linda was seated at the next research table with her laptop. The manner in which we happened to be seated had us facing each other.

After a short while she came over to me table, pointed a finger in my face and said “Stop looking at me”. I started laughing thinking it was a joke at first but quickly realized that she was dead serious. Because of the bizarre nature of her request, all I could think of to say was “Get away from me lady”.

Immediately I saw she was off in the head. I decided to go over to talk to the librarian. When Loco Linda saw me, she ran over to the librarian desk and shrilly repeated, “Tell him to stop looking at me”. She then went back to her desk. After a short discussion with the librarian, it was mutually decided that I should just move to another table away from her. Peace was maintained. The irony of the whole thing was that this woman had the type of face that you did not want to look at.

Just Start Something Steve

Steve is an inherently angry person. His vibes almost shout out, “Go ahead. Just start something with me. I’ll bash your brains in”. You don’t see him very often. When you see him however, the wisest course of action is to make believe he does not exist. When I see Steve, that is precisely what I do at once. He doesn’t want a friendly “Good morning” or a smile. He is walking around with a chip on his shoulder the size of a log.

Downcast Dan

As I mentioned, the eyes are the window to the soul. Every once in awhile I will see Downcast Dan walking by. When you look into his eyes, you will see sadness and discouragement. Almost always, I say a silent prayer for Universal Mind to help him out of his discouragement. I have walked where Dan walks. It is a kind of hell that just squeezes the life right out of you.

Good Hearted Harry

This is perhaps the best type of them all. This is the guy who you just know has a good and kind heart. You can feel it. You can sense it without a word being said. It comes forth from him like radio waves. When I see Harry, I almost get a tear in my eye when I remember that there are still people like this in the world.

Bat Shit Crazy Bennie

Bennie is why you should always be alert and aware of your surroundings. Bennie is gone. The train has left the station. There is no longer any rationality in him. Whatever happened to him along the way, Bennie is a disaster waiting to happen. You do not want to engage with Bennie as his inner filters have disintegrated. As with Harry, it is something that you sense without a word being said. It is a rare occurrence to run into Bennie but when you do, be aware that he does not play by the same rules that you and I do.

Everything We Do Affects Manifesting

Everything that you think, feel, say, do and believe affects the reality that you manifest in your life. Observing people can grow your compassion, sharpen your intuition, increase your tolerance. You can use your power as a child of God to intercede on behalf of another. As led by God’s spirit within you, you can send out silent, micro-prayers of blessing and peace to another without them ever knowing.

There Is One Life

There is a portion of a mind treatment written by Ernest Holmes that goes, “There is one Life, that Life is God, that Life is perfect, that Life is my Life now”. Your life purpose is to physically express the One Presence, the One Power, through physically manifesting every good desire.

Look at the people who walk by and understand this – we are all part of the One Presence. You are a minuscule part of this Presence. You have been royally gifted to believe as you so choose. Choose wisely. Whatsoever you desire, believe that you have already received it, and you will ultimately have it.

Conceive. Believe. Receive.

Be Still — New Way To Conquer Your Fears

Conquer Fear

Back in 1934, the author and lecturer Emmet Fox wrote an essay about how to conquer fear entitled, “Be Still — A Treatment Against Fear”. It is freely available on the internet. Read it for yourself. Print out Psalm 46 from the Bible and use it to follow along as you read the entire essay. He breaks down Psalm 46 verse by verse, going underneath the surface of the words in that beautiful Psalm. In this post I will attempt to condense the gist of the essay through my own understanding of it.

Fear Is A Stalker

Mr. Fear is a debilitating stalker — always lurking and smirking in the background. He is always ready to use any set of circumstances in your life to take your attention away from God and on him. This is the way he gains control of your inner thoughts and emotions. His end game is to take control of you. It is the way he “gets off”. Through listening to the whispers of this SOB, you then go on to obediently accept restrictions, continually rehash old grievances, and focus constantly on what is wrong in your life. You dwell on the problem. Thus you generally manifest for yourself a vortex of ongoing worry and anxiety that sucks you down a rabbit hole of misery.

A Ready Solution To Fear

Within Psalm 46, you are offered an ready solution to the malevolent whispers of fear. The way to conquer Mr. Fear is revealed in Psalm 46, Verse 10 — “Be Still and Know That I Am God.” There is a lot of symbolism contained in this Psalm. A lot. Much meaning under the surface. The essay by Emmet Fox goes into detail about what it all means.

The way that it is suggested that you conquer your fears is simplicity itself. You must however, fully commit yourself to do it. You must do more than just agree with it. It is necessary to do more than just talk about it. You cannot “dance around the maypole” with it. Discipline your mind to do it every single MF day of your life.

The Solution

The object of prayer is to raise your consciousness of the Presence of God in you, through you, around you. You must believe in God as your God. Dwelling within you always. Your refuge. Your very strength. Not just with words but with a relentless belief, a knowledge. When you experience a feeling of doubt, of terror, of despair, of fear, you must make the choice then and there to tenaciously cling to the thought of God, the One True Presence. The Kingdom of God is within you. The problem or problems that you are facing, cannot withstand your constant indwelling of the Presence of God. Fear will recede like a rain puddle recedes as a result of the continuous rays of the sun. It has to because it cannot resist the Presence of All That Is.

To conquer fear, it does mean effort on your part. You CAN rid yourself of this bastard, Mr. Fear, but there is work involved on your part. You have to make the choice to just commit yourself to this method and the work that is involved. But — Oh those beautiful rewards. Those beautiful rewards that stand patiently waiting for you. They are worth your work many, many times over. Even if you have six problems coming at you at once, just make the choice. Make what you know about God, the focus of your thoughts…morning, noon and night.

Is What You Are Doing Now Working For You?

Is what you are doing now working for you? If so, good. Stay on that path. If not however, then you know that you have nothing to lose by trying this method of conquering your fears. Refuse to accept restrictions. Refuse to rehearse grievances. In your mind, refrain from dwelling on the problem. Entertain just one visitor to your mind — the omnipotence of Eternal Supreme Intelligence, God.

It is hard to stop constantly going over those problems and worries, I understand, It is hard work, especially if you are in pain. But, you can do it. You must do it. If you will just fully commit yourself to focusing on the Presence of God, The I Am That I Am, you will conquer Mr. Fear. If you persevere, no matter what, you will begin feeling within you an inner joy and peace that you never thought you could ever experience. It will probably come when you don’t expect it but it will come. An inner peace and joy that is not dependent on outside circumstances. You will be free. It is a glorious feeling.

Be Still – Know That I AM God

From Psalm 46 – “Be still and know that I am God”. What a beautiful, incredibly powerful verse. Not a passive “doing nothing” but an active and potent recipe for whatever trouble you are in, whatever fears you have. Always remember this eternal truth – the Kingdom of God is not up there or out there or over there – the Kingdom of God is within you. Within you. Can you grasp the actual meaning of those glorious words from the mouth of Jesus Christ?

An Acronym To Remember

Here is an acronym for you. Ten attributes that emanate from the Kingdom of God, the eternal I AM. The acronym is: LITE-PPPP-IC. Dwell on these wherever you happen to be. Let them flood your mind. They all perpetually exist within the Kingdom of God. When you dwell on these attributes, you are dwelling on God. Mr. Fear despises it when you do this because it means, if you persevere, he will ultimately lose his control over you.

Love – deep affection, deep devotion. The strongest energy force in the universe.

Intelligence -everything there is to know.

Truth – pure and simple, truth is what is.

Energy – the pure light of the universe

Prosperity -the universal cornucopia.

Power – relentless, unrestrainable force.

ComPassion – we are all one. what helps one, helps all, helps you.

Peace – a knowing stillness; being centered in the Presence of God.

Imagination – to see what you want to make real.

Creativity – to make real in your mind what you see

Dwell on the Presence of God within you. Don’t look to the right. Don’t look to the left. Refrain from looking at your problem. Look at the I Am That I Am that lives within you. If you are able to maintain the rays of the sun by being still, in steady faith, the waters will recede. Mr. Fear will fold up his tent and go after easier pickings elsewhere. He will have no choice. He simply cannot coexist with the power and peace of the Presence of God.

Mr. Fear Will Exit The Scene

Keep your focus on the Presence of God. Your problem or problems will in due course be overcome. Sometimes quickly. Sometimes little by little. Perhaps they will be overcome in the way that you expect. Or perhaps in a way that you never expected. If you do your part however, the problem will be successfully dealt with. You will have the ability to be still in all circumstances. And Mr. Fear will avoid you like the plague and go after the one who focuses on him. You will enjoy that beautiful peace, that success, that you deserve in your life. Try it for sixty consecutive days without fail. Experience for yourself the power of Psalm 46 – Be still and know I am God. Once you get that taste of the inner peace through practicing the Presence of the Divine Eternal, fear will have no place in your life.

Conceive. Believe. Receive.