Photo via Ryoji Iwata

Maya Jabbari

Staff Writer

Not long ago, I was perusing a shop and saw the CD Jack Johnson and Friends: Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the film Curious George. Before I continue, if you’re wondering if I picked it up– yes, yes I did. Upon listening and somewhat remembering the songs, the third track of the album, “People Watching”, played, suddenly reminding me of the pleasure that that very activity can bring. 

Mark Geraghty, a member of Executive Recruit Group, writes what people-watching is according to him, “So, I’m going to hold my hand up, I’m a people watcher. Not in a weird or sinister way, I don’t do it through my window or behind a bush, I just enjoy watching and, in some ways, interrogating people’s behaviour.” Geraghty get’s it here, I completely agree with him. It really is an act of tranquillity, and I don’t think it’s fair to poke fun at it until you’ve tried it out yourself. 

Recently, as a way to escape all the stress from school, my favourite activity has been watching what others are doing in public spaces. Where are they going? What music are they listening to? What are they feeling? Who are they talking to on the phone? People-watching has become a nice normal for me when I leave the house since I’ve always found myself intrigued by how others communicate with one another, how they want to be perceived, and what they are actively doing to get their message across.

I don’t want to talk about the challenges of being a college student because it’s a story I believe we all know too well. All the work–especially now that many of us are in midterms–has been so heavy and we’re at a time in our lives where we’re actively making decisions independently. We are truly stepping into adulthood, which can be very stressful for the majority of people. 

People-watching can be an act of therapy if you think about it. Emily Chan, a writer for Baron News, discusses the fact that there are various strategies to avoid stress, but for some, there is no meditation quite like the art of watching others. Getting out of the house and finding a peaceful area to sit can help us relax in our frantic daily routines. Essentially, you are creating an atmosphere for yourself that forces you to slow down and reconnect with the real world and the real people that live in it. 

Cafés and libraries do a great job at making this activity enticing and doable. On your own, you can look out the window to see cars pass and people walking by, sipping their coffee, picking up books, living life. This is freeing! It gives you time to not worry about everything that you may or may not have going on. Lean into it. Maybe grab a coffee or tea, or pick up a book–though a part of me hopes you won’t read it because the people-watching might be tempting enough! 

Currently, the stools that look out the window at Cafe Myriade (on the corner of Atwater and De Maisonneuve) have been my favourite place for this activity thus far. In terms of libraries, Montreal Trust’s Indigo has a perfect spot that overlooks Saint Catherine (but I’m gatekeeping my chair…sorry). 

However, Dawson itself is a great place to carry this out, with the cafeteria being a trusty option. Always packed– even when you think it might’ve died down in business– it sparks up again. The benches on the third floor watching over the atrium, the cafeteria, and the lockers all the way below have a nice view as well. 

But out of all these options, one remains: parks. In my opinion, this is the most reliable and stress-relieving choice. Parks are ideal for people-watching. With that comes some shared sense of relaxation, as others come there to find peace too. As a recommendation, Dawson’s campus (though not technically considered a park) has great benches outside. If you’re looking for an actual park, La Fontaine is the winner for me. It’s spacious, it’s beautiful (especially in the fall!), and there are always people.

So, when you really think about it, this simple act of observation can be a gateway to gaining a deeper understanding of those around you and–surprisingly– of yourself. It’s not about judging or criticising others but rather about learning from the people who live among you by observing human experiences. Sometimes we all need to put things into perspective. That doesn’t mean disregarding our emotions or engaging in thoughts about the lives of other people, it just means taking time to let loose and float off.

It’s interesting and beautiful to know that everyone, anywhere, is on a journey. Some are tourists, some walk familiar streets, some sit on benches, some talk on the phone, some read, some sip coffee, and many are glued to their phones. I guess we really are everywhere, and it’s nice to remind ourselves of that once in a while, even if we are really busy.