#5 The Nod

We don't often acknowledge the existence of people we don't know

Those we don't find safe to talk to

But very occasionally, we give a brief gesture, mumble or glance in their direction

Signals which can mean anything from 'stay off my territory' to 'I find you attractive, but I'm too scared to act on this inclination'

But there is one type of engagement with strangers which I really treasure.

One that looks like nothing to the mere outsider.

The Nod.

Not just 'a nod' but 'The Nod'. The one that says:

We are both insignificantly small beings, on an insignificantly small piece of rock hurtling at many miles an hour through space.

And on that insignificant rock there are billions and billions of humans, all of whom have an entirely unique perspective on life and history of experience of their time on this earth.

That out of all these billions and billions of beings, our paths, yours and mine, have happen to cross just once.

They may do so again, but we wont realise so it doesn't count then.

But this time, we share the moment, not only of how unlikely and insignificant we are, but of how unique and how special we are as well.

That our past, our decisions and our experiences have bought us both to this point are both different and will take us different places in the future, but right now we're at the same point in time and space, and experiencing this same moment of life together.

And we acknowledge that with The Nod.

http://harryisapoet.blogspot.com/2013/01/5-nod.html