Body language is a fascinating subject and I find it really interesting to observe people. I'm sitting in a café at the moment. There are three young girls chatting together, although one seems to be looking around, more interested in other people. Her friends are still talking to her, but her mind is on other things. At another table there are two women and one is absent-mindedly twiddling her hair. I don't know if she's listening to her companion, but she's forever curling that length of hair around her finger and has a vague look on her face; most disconcerting. At a table of four, they all seem to be talking at once; so who’s listening? Another couple have just sat down and aren’t communicating verbally at all, although their body language speaks volumes. They're drinking their coffees as if they could be their last, and possibly wish they were. Oh, now they're talking, no, arguing, which explains the frozen looks. The man even has his arms folded, so no chance of him giving in to any of her demands. It seems that the only women smiling are the waitresses; they're always happy - and efficient - which is a fantastic combination. A joy to watch.
People-watching at an airport is always fun. As it's a place where individuals may be in an unfamiliar environment; where they may be travelling, welcoming or saying goodbye, emotions run high. You can feel the warmth as friends, couples, or families greet each other; and feel the pain as travellers say goodbye to their loved ones. Inhibitions may be dropped and true feelings displayed. I was amused when I saw a woman dressed head to toe in vivid purple, including her hair, greet her flamboyant boyfriend; and a group, with banners and trumpets, giving an enthusiastic welcome to a home-coming friend.
Maybe, the way we portray ourselves is not a prime consideration for many of us and, as long as we're happy with our appearance and manner, we can continue without any concerns. It's only when we want to impress or make a statement that we might realise we're sending out the wrong message. For example, dressing for an interview is totally different from dressing for a sports event, and wearing a suit for a football match sounds absurd. However, I think that whatever we choose to wear, the most important thing is that we feel it's right for us. Some people intentionally stand out by being different.
Back to the café and I'm still glancing around; the arguing couple have left and the others are still talking. I just hope that no one is looking at me, looking at them, as they could come to the wrong conclusion!