Filed under Life
Mamihlapinatapai
What a fascinating word. From Wikipedia we get :
It refers to "a look shared by two people, each wishing that the other will offer something that they both desire but are unwilling to do."
I love this word now. It comes from the Yagahan language, which sadly, is now a dead language. To me, it in some sense encompasses everyone, every second, of every day. I think we all walk around looking at each other, wanting to say something and to some extent, I'd bet we all want to hear what you want to say. It's the club effect. You go to a club to presumably meet people, and then you make eye contact with someone. You want so badly for them to do something, come over, motion your way, anything; but neither one of you take the dive, yet you're both hoping for the same thing. Your senses kick in and you realize, any longer and it's staring. You break off the look, and pretend like it never happened. Moment lost.
Knowing this however, doesn't make being the one to start something any easier. Just remember, the next time you're out at the club, and someone makes eye contact with you, don't let it become a mamihlapinatapai moment.
36615b94-91b7-4cfd-8e4f-35d08bd4859d|0|.0