A Daily Dose of Romance

So, did you watch people yesterday? If you don’t get the chance to people watch in public alone, you can always use the television. Just turn the volume down so you don’t hear the words.

First off, remember the hitch in all of this. You must take into consideration the whole of the circumstance. To show you what I mean, think of this example: You’re talking with someone, their arms are crossed over their chest. For the most part, that would mean they are not very receptive to you or to what you are saying. But if you are both standing and talking outside, the wind is blowing and it’s winter, then interpreting their body language as not receptive would likey be wrong. They are most likely just plain cold. 

Here’s another tidbit, if someone keeps their hands in thier pockets, that can indicate that they do not want to talk or may be hiding something. Could they lying, or perhaps just don’t want to talk so they don’t have to lie.

How’s the best way to tell if a smile is genuine? Look at the eyes. Insincere smiles don’t usually reach the eyes.

Now, just like words in the English language, individual gestures may have many meanings. That is why it is important to look at the context of the situation, including the surroundings and environment before you make your interpretation of someone’s behavior.

Monday. Wow, another weekend has rushed by. As I mentioned Friday, I spent a good bit of time researching the topic of Body Language for a workshop I’m to give to my local writer’s group this coming weekend. It is a subject as complicated as the English language. But a fun one. And I’m definately going to have to pick and choose the few things I discuss for the workshop, as it would take an all day workshop to cover just the basics.

My current book is also coming along. So I did manage some writing there, as well as some research for my next book (the idea that came to me in the shower last week). Oh, and I did some more critiquing for one of my CP’s. Throw in one late night Halloween party, add life in general, and the weekend was busy.

Now, I promised some tidbits from my research this week. And we will get to those…but telling is never the same as showing. So I want you to spend a few minutes today ‘people watching’. I love to do this. I just fade into the background at the office or grocery store, where ever there are quite a few folks, and watch how men and women interact. Now the hitch is, you have to be far enough away not to HEAR the interaction. Try to pay detailed attention to the actual physical motions they make. Do they scratch their head alot? Have their fingers around their mouth all the time? Are hands always in pockets? Then think of your first impression. Do they seem friendly? Is someone agitated? Annoyed?

We’ll get to some of the results tomorrow….

This is my last weekend to prepare for a workshop I’m giving the first Saturday in November to my local writer’s group. So I doubt I’ll get much of my own writing done, especially with everything else we’ve got planned for the weekend. But who knows, eh?

The topic of my workshop is body language. We all have it, we all use it, but we’re rarely aware of the specifics of it. Many times we’ll get a feeling or a sense about a person, but don’t know why we feel that way. Usually, it is the subconscious picking up on the conflict between body language and what is being said. Certain aspects of body language are taught in the realm of business as sort of how to’s for selling or managing. But do you know the ‘why’ behind them?

I thought next week I would share some of the tidbits from my notes. So stay tuned!