Coffee Chat

Why is it the human condition to avoid confrontation? I am sitting at Starbucks, nonfat caramel macchiato in hand (yumyumyummmmy). I am being that creeper that sits on a laptop, sips coffee happily, and does some intense people watching. You know, that person that you just know isn't doing homework, but is sitting there simply enjoying the atmosphere. That is me!
Hey, the atmosphere is free, don't judge. Its just too bad that the coffee didn't follow suit. That would be pretty awesome.
I know it is creepy, but that is were I find most of my intuition. Ever since I have been a kid, I have been a people watcher. I used to sit at the McDonald's in Walmart and watch people walk in, wondering what their lives were like. I would look at the way they dressed, how they carried themselves, and the people they associated with. I usually could pull a fairly accurate general judgement out of my observations.
I guess I have a writers eye for detail?
From what I have observed of people, though, I have noticed one reoccurring trend: avoidance. People want to be left alone. They literally avoid people at all costs. Its quite amusing. I am not saying that it is a bad thing, necessarily. I can tell you right now that I am VERY guilty of ducking around corners and pretending to text to avoid confrontation. People are weird. So judge me. You can't deny it! ANYWAY (I'm prone to tangents, I know!) people don't like to be around other people. Even today when I was looking to find a seat outside of Starbucks to plop down and write for a bit I noticed that every single person outside this little coffee shop is sitting at a separate four person table. Why? I don't know. We are all sitting alone, too. We all have laptops out. So we are all romantic poets sitting outside a coffee shop on a moody Wednesday morning pouring our hearts out into words?
Maybe that's just me.
I can even tell you that I walked all the way around my island onto myself to sit at the farthest seat away from the person at the adjacent table.
Okay, NOW you can judge.
I know, however, that I am not alone in my endeavor to avoid human contact. My question is this: WHY do we avoid other people in such a proactive manner? Why do we purposely find ways to get away with as little human contact as we can? In my last blog, I talked a lot about how much being loved means to us. Why can't we show the world a little bit of love? That awkward girl sitting outside of Starbucks? Maybe she needs a smile to brighten her day! Maybe that guy slumped over his laptop just failed an exam, and he could use a reassuring nod of the head. We all need a little love, but we are stupid and stubborn and refuse to give it to each other.
I mean, think of which restaurant you have a better experience at:
EXHIBIT A: McDonald's Restaurant in NYC. You walk up to a garish red and yellow counter top that literally just glows with grease. You punch your order into an automated machine and swipe a credit card through. The woman behind you has four kids that are all screaming. Your head hurts a little bit. All you want is your damn 10 piece chicken mcnugget meal. A few minutes later and it is up at the counter. The "waitress" disappears before you can even make out a vague idea of what she looks like.
EXHIBIT B: Small town family restaurant. You walk in to Sally's Coffee Shop and are immediately greeted by the barista. She smiles and says hello to you. The wait is a bit longer, but you don't mind conversing with the people waiting in line. Everybody seems so happy. There is a man from out of town, and he asks you,
"What's good here?"
You reply that everything is simply delicious because it is all homemade by Sally's grandmother. However, you suggest a blueberry muffin and a vanilla latte because, well, you just can't go wrong with a blueberry muffin and a vanilla latte. You just can't.
Regardless of his indecisiveness, you make your way up to the counter and the barista already has your cup ready with your name on it.
"The usual?"
Of course.
You get to sit in a comfy, slightly worn in seat as the raindrops bead on the window. You hear your name and look up to see that your coffee has been left in front of you. A smiley face adorns the pristine white paper cup, just under your name. The barista smiles as she walks away. It is a good day.
Would you like exhibit a or exhibit b? I should hope you'd chose the latter. Although, I am aware that everybody needs their Shamrock Shake Chicken McNugget fix every once and a while. It happens. However, I know that most people would prefer the personalized, home-like experience.
Now, why can we not apply this concept to every day life?
Why can't I walk down the street and smile at a stranger? Why can't I say hello to a random guy without him thinking I am hitting on him?  Why can't I strike up a conversation with the dude waiting in line with me at McDonald's (although I'm not sure that I'd want to do that) BUT ANYWAY MY POINT IS WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST BE NICE AND CIVIL AND LOVING TOWARDS ALL OF HUMANITY? It doesn't make sense.
In conclusion, I'd like to ask you all a favor: say hello to one random person today, smile at a stranger, and strike up a conversation with somebody that you never ever talk to. You never know what could come of it!
<3s and lots of coffee to you all.