Just look up
What I see every day has a big influence, and not just to the day but to my life. Every morning, when I get out of bed, I notice two facts:
It is always dark and I wake up later than I used to (latitudes baby and also, #proofthatearthisnotflat)
I can always see the sky because buildings aren’t tall
You might be wondering what is so special about this. Not long ago, when I would leave home I would see people hurrying to get to work.
Perfect makeup, crisp clothes and not a smile to pass. Everyone looking at their watches or their phones. Standing in line was so painful that we had bypassed it with immaculate efficiency. And, even when those dreaded moments of patience came, open and scroll it began. We tried to hide our discomfort, our frustrations, chaining our inner monster that was screaming to be let out.
This picture was taken without permission and is being displayed without permission. So, if the subject in the photo AKA my close friend is reading this and wants this removed, you only need to give me a shout.
A bowed head is usually a sign of shame. You look at your shoes when being scolded by your teacher. You look down when you are embarrassed to face someone. We have glorified looking down. Let’s all go for a fancy dinner and stare at our phones.
OKAY, now I know I sound anti-technology but I really am not. Merely, stating the facts.
So fast forward to this morning, I was hurrying to find a co-working space. Completely engrossed in my phone’s GPS and going in the exact opposite direction, when I looked up and saw happy and relaxed people. Lost in the streets but happy. Looking at menus deciding between breakfast choices, happy. Squabbling amongst their family, happy. Everyone in a crowd was as lost as I was but little hurry. Everyone at peace and looking up. ** I must add here that I am currently in a town that is a vacation hub so this impression is biased.
There’s a concept in one of the social sciences called ambient awareness which is basically being aware of your surroundings in not a direct manner but on the peripherals. This kind of awareness is often used by marketing campaign to get people adopted to a brand or a particular product. If you see it everywhere, you start to trust it even if you have little proof of whether it is good or bad.
My surroundings recently changed but nothing innately has changed about me. I do not want to work on different things, I do not suddenly like mojitos. I still enjoy a salad and tiramisu remains my favourite dessert. I have a recent love for diet coke that I can’t explain.. wait, I am going on a tangent like always.
OK, where was I? Yes, nothing has changed except my surrounding. What has changed is what other people are doing around me. Every day now when I look up I cannot help but soar. I feel alive. Instead of drowning under the weight of a beast I am trying to tame, the beast now runs wild. It doesn’t even want to rebel or scream or throw a tantrum. Why should it?
Our behaviour is a reaction to the actions around us, so if the environment is toxic it flows into us. It doesn’t matter how high we build the walls. Some cynicism always seeps in. Once in a while, it is important to look up and be surprised with what the world can offer.
