“The problem with people is that they're only human.”

Last week at this time, I was trying to simultaneously edit a research paper, study for an exam, and listen to music (unlike the iPhone, I doubt my ability to multitask is going to improve any time soon). Approximately three hours into my tortuous day, I realized that I had been listening to the same song on repeat (Edge of Desire by John Mayer, for those interested). But I also noticed that I was still being surprised by aspects of the song. How is it possible, I wondered, that I have listened to this song fifty-some times in a row and do not know it in it's entirety? Considering the month it used to take me to fully memorize piano pieces, maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised.

In studying human psychology, I have constantly been made aware of how people think but also how people don't think. Why we do and don't act the way we do in various situations. And you know, psychological theories seem to have a pretty strong grasp of people. There is so much value in body language, nuances of speech, actions, and seeming intentions. But we humans are complicated. There are just so many exceptions to theories. People still surprise us, no matter whether we've just met or played together in diapers. Each of us is a song on repeat.

In an Office episode earlier this season, two characters, Andy and Erin, are each waiting for the other to make the next move. "I can't wait to see how he tops the drumline," she says in a monologue, while he comments, "The ball's totally in her court after the drumline thing" in his immediately subsequent monologue. This ironic scene is a spot-on display of the human condition. To think each could remain oblivious to the other's emotion is disappointing but so real.

While sometimes the mysteries of interactions are exciting, other times they are a complete waste of time. There is value in earnest communication. In resisting the urge to tip-toe around situations or revel in subtleties. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure that we're on the same page is not by trying to catch a glimpse of a page-number but by discussing.

Guessing games are fun, but not when, twenty questions later, you're still left guessing.