life stories and the people who tell them
Everybody has a story to tell.
I LOVE walking to work. Seriously. Yes, there are days when the trip becomes routine and unexciting, but it’s never boring.
I am an “observer.” Sometimes, I just like to watch people, watch them interact with others, and try to understand their “motivations.” It’s true that observance can be quite superficial, often tainted by subjectivity, and because a single fact can be interpreted in a million different ways. Still, don’t you ever wonder why the people who cross your path do the things they do? Dress a certain way, have that particular expression.. What about their pace? Everyday, I come across people who are hurriedly going up and down the steps, people who lazily chat with companions, call center kids converging in groups. I am amazed at the diversity of the people who co-exist within such a small geographic location and yet are virtually unaware of each others’ presence.
I remember watching this episode of Scrubs, where Zach Braff’s character was having a bad day. Whether he realized it or not, his “bad mood” actions spurred a ripple effect into the lives of people who didn’t seem the least bit connected to him. We act and we act, but do we ever really consider the weight of our actions – whether seemingly small and trivial or one with gargantuan implications? And this isn’t limited to the bad stuff we do either. Even the little kindnesses we do can have a great effect to the people who receive them. Whether it’s a (literal) pat on the back, a few kind words, or something as simple as a smile, all of them are integral to the life stories of those who surround us.
In film, there’s a term called Mis-En-Scene (or “what is put into a scene”) that explains how a particular setting can serve to add more depth and awareness to what the director or whomever is trying to convey. In a way, that also applies to the "setting" of our own lives. Human beings are relational, after all, and how we interact with our surroundings (whether people, places, objects.. you get the picture) affect our own “stories” in one way or another. What surrounds is isn’t merely a prop. We are where we meant to be at the moment, with the people we come across at this point in our lives, having what we have (and this means not having as well!) because these “scenes” in our stories of our lives serve to teach us something, and ultimately will reveal something about us to others (ourselves included).
Now, this isn’t at all about “judging.” And I’m not trying to be all “smarty-pants” about loosely substituting the words “judging” and “interpretation” either. All I’m saying is, well, SOMEONE’S ALWAYS WATCHING. :) Maybe not in the voyeuristic sense but someone will always be affected by the things we do, whether we choose to acknowledge that or not. Oh, and this isn’t about “pleasing other people” either! At the end of the day, how you live your life is your choice, and it’s really your story to tell. We are all accountable for our actions, after all. ;)
I LOVE walking to work. Seriously. Yes, there are days when the trip becomes routine and unexciting, but it’s never boring.
I am an “observer.” Sometimes, I just like to watch people, watch them interact with others, and try to understand their “motivations.” It’s true that observance can be quite superficial, often tainted by subjectivity, and because a single fact can be interpreted in a million different ways. Still, don’t you ever wonder why the people who cross your path do the things they do? Dress a certain way, have that particular expression.. What about their pace? Everyday, I come across people who are hurriedly going up and down the steps, people who lazily chat with companions, call center kids converging in groups. I am amazed at the diversity of the people who co-exist within such a small geographic location and yet are virtually unaware of each others’ presence.
I remember watching this episode of Scrubs, where Zach Braff’s character was having a bad day. Whether he realized it or not, his “bad mood” actions spurred a ripple effect into the lives of people who didn’t seem the least bit connected to him. We act and we act, but do we ever really consider the weight of our actions – whether seemingly small and trivial or one with gargantuan implications? And this isn’t limited to the bad stuff we do either. Even the little kindnesses we do can have a great effect to the people who receive them. Whether it’s a (literal) pat on the back, a few kind words, or something as simple as a smile, all of them are integral to the life stories of those who surround us.
In film, there’s a term called Mis-En-Scene (or “what is put into a scene”) that explains how a particular setting can serve to add more depth and awareness to what the director or whomever is trying to convey. In a way, that also applies to the "setting" of our own lives. Human beings are relational, after all, and how we interact with our surroundings (whether people, places, objects.. you get the picture) affect our own “stories” in one way or another. What surrounds is isn’t merely a prop. We are where we meant to be at the moment, with the people we come across at this point in our lives, having what we have (and this means not having as well!) because these “scenes” in our stories of our lives serve to teach us something, and ultimately will reveal something about us to others (ourselves included).
Now, this isn’t at all about “judging.” And I’m not trying to be all “smarty-pants” about loosely substituting the words “judging” and “interpretation” either. All I’m saying is, well, SOMEONE’S ALWAYS WATCHING. :) Maybe not in the voyeuristic sense but someone will always be affected by the things we do, whether we choose to acknowledge that or not. Oh, and this isn’t about “pleasing other people” either! At the end of the day, how you live your life is your choice, and it’s really your story to tell. We are all accountable for our actions, after all. ;)
posted by dystopian dreamland @ 7:52 AM
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