I’m quite proud of myself. The autumn has arrived at a quick and chilly rate, and I am still managing to go out running. Well, occasionally. Normally when the summer fades into view, so does any attempt to get outside for a hearty jog. But progress is being made. As for how long this continues, time will tell.
Anyway, I was on one such run last weekend when ahead of me on the entrance to a street was a lady walking her dog. She was wrapped up in a warm winter coat and scarf, with her hands tightly put in her pockets and walking on the spot to keep warm, whilst her dog, a cute pug, did its business.
The lady could see I was approaching so she kindly made way for me to pass. But as I passed, her dog immediately started running alongside me. He clearly wanted a race and fancied his chances (with good reason). This took the poor lady by surprise who, because the dog was on a leash, suddenly had to engage in a little run of her own.
So there we all were — me, a stranger, and her pug dog, all running along a street towards a path, me and the lady in fits of giggles. I kept running thinking the dog will surely stop at any moment. But alas not, this dear dog kept on running. This happened for a further 25 yards or so, until eventually the dog either tired or got bored, and slowed down. I could then run on and the lady was able to catch her breath. We were both then able to wave each other a relieved goodbye.
Sometimes it takes events out of our control to break social convention. Whether we’re on public transport, walking the streets, waiting in a queue or being served at a supermarket, it feels as though, for the most part, we tend to keep ourselves to ourselves. We avoid eye contact, keep words or grunts to the bare minimum, stay glued to our phone or book or newspaper.
But then something unexpected and unnerving happens which smashes through the unspoken awkwardness of the moment: coffee is spilt over an arm on the tube, a baby waves across the room at the old man in the corner of the coffee shop reading the newspaper, the ticket machine is too complex to work out or the cash machine is broken, a child’s toy drops in front of the elderly couple on the train, the plane is delayed from taking off, two people walk around the corner only to bump into each other, the queue is kept waiting by the angry customer telling the whole shop about their annoyance, a dog decides to race a random runner…
These happenings sometimes have the lovely habit of uniting people together — be it through hearty apologies, shared exasperations, collective eye-rolls, kind offers of help or simply warm smiles and giggles. And what’s more, they can bring a lightness and laughter to our lives that outlasts the moment itself. The worry that was weighing us down now doesn’t feel as heavy. Or we like to recall the moment back in our head because it always raises a welcome laugh or smile. Or we end up telling others about it, a story to add to our own personal archive to bring out in the pub, over the dinner table, in the office. Perhaps even one or two strangers become friends.
So here’s to not being too scared when life’s little moments and activities take an unforeseen, daunting turn. A new story may well just be unfolding and the ending could be rather satisfying.