As a mami, I’ve heard the expression that “little eyes are always watching” more than once.  Meaning that, even if my kids are not prestándome ni un poquito de atención, they are still watching what I’m doing and may ultimately imitate it.

But this week, I’ve been thinking about how it’s not only children that watch us.  It’s other people, too.  And though sometimes the glances and glares of others might feel judgy, they can have otro lado to them, too.  Not only them on us, but us on them.

Imagínate, the ánimo and inspiration you might give someone who you don’t even know is watching.  An exhibit- a short list of people that inspire me, who I have only ever seen through a window or at a distance: the overweight woman who exercises at dusk, even though that is when the yards and neighborhood streets can get crowded; the sixty-something man who trains for races on his lunch hour; the younger couple that walks their two huge dogs calmly, hand-in-hand; the neighbor who plays basketball with his son almost nightly, always encouraging him, even though the boy never seems to get better; the man with the whimsical bell on his bike, who rings it anytime he sees kids or animals.  These illustrations of determination, vitality, tranquility, patience, and whimsy inspire me without their keepers’ ever having a clue.

What’s that other expression?  ”Work like you don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt, and dance as if no one is watching.”  But most of the time, there are always others around.  So this week, embrace life like someone’s watching; when you dance (or run, or play with your kid, or stand in line…lo que sea) work to represent a force that’s positiva and, coincidentally, contagiosa.

*photo by Michele Catania