Observance

    Acting and writing are two of the things that I have really ended up dedicating my life to; in a way, unintentionally. They are two crafts and identities, really that are inexplicably and permanently intertwined. Both are incarnations of art. Art has, in it's many different bodes, always dominated my life.  It is why I am so (sometimes terribly and inconveniently) empathetic, so curious, so passionate and uncontrollably expressive (or perhaps vice versa?).
    What I believe it all leads back to, however, is this general concept of the human condition. Artists in any form are obsessed with life. Oftentimes, specifically, with people. Maybe it's with their motivation, with their actions or the consequences of said actions on society, or their relationships to one another.
    As it follows, either as a result of my interest in these art forms or leading to my pursuit of them, I am also fascinated with people. I feel like there are a zillion sneaky, secret windows into who a person really is, if you care enough to look. 


Here are a few I have found, obvious or no:

• Driving: you see someone's temper, obviously. How observant they are, and what they pay attention to. From their posture and distance from the wheel you can often tell how things like how nervous they might be (my seat sits at a 90 degree angle and I can practically kiss my steering wheel)
• The way they talk to their mother/elders: usually is a good indicator of how well they deal with embarrassment and their ego, as well as the general respect they show for others. 
• The way they talk to employees: what they do in a position of power, how seriously they take themselves, how considerate they are; it makes me happy when, at the end of a meal, whoever I'm with also neatly stacks their dishes to make it easier for the busser. 
• The photos they take and the way they take them: simply a literal view into the way they see the world around them and what they notice.
• The books they read/their record collections and their placement: show not only what they like, but how proud they are of them. I'll put my Bukowski next to my Cosmo and Cash next to my Duff on the coffee table because (personally) I just don't care enough about how others might judge what I like to put them away when people come over.  

What are some small or unique ways to get to know people?