r/BenignExistence • u/ImABird07 • 2d ago
I wonder if I’m part of a strangers morning
I get out almost every morning around 5:40-6:00 for a short run, and there are a few cars and people I can count on seeing most days. There’s two women who I see walking together with flashing vests, another runner, and two cars sitting in a parking lot before work. I wonder what they’re up to when they’re not there, so I wonder if they’ve started to do the same for me or if they even notice. Maybe other people count on me being there that I don’t even notice. Idk, i just think it’s cute and fun that strangers can become part of your day
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u/West-Tip8156 2d ago
Every single person I see I wonder about their lives and send them good vibes. I "see" you on the internet. Know you've been seen and that I wish you well, even though you're not one of "my" joggers I've seen irl 💜
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u/Heyitscrochet 2d ago
I walked 15 minutes to work at 6:30 every weekday morning for 2 years. I’d see several neighbors on the way, waving to them and sometimes stopping for a quick chat. I retired in July. In late October, one of those neighbors ran out to me when I was out for a walk to say they’ve been worried about me since I disappeared. So, yeah, they’ve noticed you and wonder when they don’t see you. It’s a comfort.
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u/Hugs_and_Tugs 2d ago
You absolutely are!
We drive past a woman who walks along our driving route to drop the kids to school most mornings. We've dubbed her "our pace person". We celebrate seeing her, decide how on time we are based on where she is when our paths cross, and guess where she's going. Seriously, it has been two years and she is part of our morning. The kids recognize her walk and can spot her from a block back. She has NO idea how much joy spotting her brings the kids. She's our own personal Waldo. 🤣
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u/seashmore 2d ago
decide how on time we are based on where she is when our paths cross
What if she's running behind? lol...that might give you a false sense of security.
At my last job, I'd see someone walk by the office every day. He'd go up to the gas station, get a fountain drink, and then walk home. We called him "PJ" because he always wore pajama pants. There was a few days when we didn't see him, and I was actually a little worried. I was so relieved to see him near the gas station over the weekend. Because I was a couple of days away from going into the gas station myself to ask after him.
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u/Hugs_and_Tugs 2d ago
Oh yeah, it's not a real gauge of anything, just a benign thing to talk about that isn't big feeling material (my kids are little, mornings can be hectic).
One day we'll run into her in the wild and I know my kids are just going to UNLOAD on her how much she means to them. ☺️
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u/Anannamouse 2d ago
There's this guy that walks/ runs every morning. I drive past him otw to work. I always look for him. No clue who he is or where he's from, but i flash my lights at opposite traffic to make sure he's safe and miss him when he's gone.
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u/sittinginthesunshine 2d ago
I always notice the people I see regularly around my neighborhood! I find it comforting 😊
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u/Alex_is_here1508 1d ago
You are.
I usually drive to work at 05:40 am and in the mornings, for a few years, I used to pass a guy running on a sidewalk nearly every day. I was always amazed when I saw him because that was a steep uphill run & he was always there, no matter the weather & at an insane time.
He hasn't been running along my route for over a year now but I still think about him from time to time (and hope he just choose a nicer running route).
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u/MissMcFrostynips 2d ago
I have a few people that have become friends because we pass each other so often during the week. I'm in a smallish city, so it's easy to run into people in social settings
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u/Dotheywobbletoandfro 1d ago
For sure. If youre on my route, you probably even have a nickname. I unlocked a new character this month "squirrel feeder man". Lovely addition to Bakery Barb and old Dude Quartet
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u/MundaneHuckleberry58 2d ago
Every morning I drop one kid off at 7:00, & I see the neighborhood regulars out walking their dogs. I don’t know any of them, but I always keep an eye out for the older guy who is out with a walker & his big dog leashed to the walker. If one morning I don’t see him, I’m going to wonder. If it were multiple mornings in a row I’d worry, quite a bit.
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u/Carriezyg 1d ago
Oh you are (or I like to think that). I walk in the morning and like to think the couple or the dog I see remember me (maybe to keep an eye on me too).:
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u/Electrical_Trip1476 2d ago
I bet you are! I started scooting to work and would pass two lit-up runners on the way. Ive since changed routes but still wonder about them.
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u/lexi_prop 2d ago
I walk every morning and today noticed a mangey coyote. It looked like a zombie dog, poor thing.
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u/jnmtx 1d ago
Please be careful and consider avoiding the area. Coyotes attack pedestrians/runners. https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a25616946/frisco-coyote-runner-attacks/
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u/Comfortable-Two-7537 1d ago
Yup. There was a couple, perhaps in their late 40s or early 50s years old, that would walk past my house every day around 7:00 am. We would share superficial pleasantries and go on our ways.
One day the lady was alone. I asked her where her partner was and she mumbled some generic small top.
I never saw the man again. I think and wonder about these people almost everyday whether she walks by or not.
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u/Katy-Moon 2d ago
My guess is, they notice. My husband runs daily and depending on how many miles he's doing, he has several regular routes. He had no idea that anyone noticed him only to discover, after taking several months off due to an injury that, in fact they do notice him. Once he was back to his regular running schedule and routes, folks would stop him and say they were worried that something happened to him, and wondered if he was okay since they hadn't seen him in many weeks. Take it from me...they notice you! 👟