Witness 08: Moments of Cinema
The spectacular scenes of everydayness
A QUIET JOY
FROM YOU
Riding my bike in a sea of cornfields under the setting sun, I met a stuck cargo train blocking a country road. Cutting through the audible stillness, the dinging, old-school “train x-ing” bell drew me in, as warm pavement found the backs of my outstretched legs. I watched the moon kiss the tracks with her reflection while the red blinking lights made dancing shadows out of the tops of my feet. Nearby, under a single flickering light, a sad, yet proudly purposeful operating shed observed us…me, the train, the corn, the moon, and everything that filled the space between us.
Kat, Carlinville, Illinois
A REFLECTION FROM ME
'The world doesn't revolve around you', they say. In most cases I would agree as it's a more comforting thought to recognise that we are one tiny part of the whole. That the world keeps on going when we stand still for a day. That while we are all incredibly important, there is a kind of insignificance about each of us in comparison to the vastness of this planet.
But, we of course tend to believe that the world revolves around us, because our perception says so. It's easy to convince ourselves that everyone is staring at us or talking about us. When they very rarely are. It's easy to believe that the entire world will notice if you have a hole in your jumper. They won't. Trust me.
We see the world through filters of our own making. If you hate the colour pink, then your world looks very different to someone who favours fuchsia. If you're always in a rush, then your world moves faster than someone who quite literally stops to smell the roses. In many ways the world does indeed feel centred around us, and that is especially true when we stumble upon these precious moments that make us pause in wonder.
These little scenes that feel like they've been made especially for us. Where everything feels right. Too good to be true. When the moon is right there. Or rain delicately drops. When we stand in the perfect spot to see the clouds turn orange. Or see a squirrel finally find a nut. Like the world is existing just for us, in that moment. Revolving around us, in that moment.
It's a reminder that life is cinematic. That we bump into these scenes of everydayness that feel pretty spectacular in their simplicity. Scenes that feel like they matter more than ever. It has been such a weird year for me, one that I think we can all agree has sped by. I can't make sense of it or summarise it. There's not a word that I can use to capture it.
There's been some crushing lows. Sprinkles of highs. But, what will stay with me the most is the moments of cinema that I found in between. The walks that inspired me. The nature that surrounded me. The moments in supermarkets. Strolling past lakes. Dancing in the street. Eating ice-cream on street corners in Brooklyn. Holding hands with friends on park benches. Running through storms to get bagels.
The main character moments. The moments that you wish a film crew were documenting. The moments we see on screen and get teary-eyed over. There all right here for the experiencing.
These were the little scenes I collected throughout the year that felt too good to be true. Ones I documented in my mind, journal and camera roll. They added up to something spectacular.
Life isn't always filled with these big moments that we can write about. Sometimes a year just feels shit. Yet, when we store up the daily scenes, something cinematic occurs. Something worth remembering. Those moments are worth it all.
4 Little Practices For…
LOVING YOURSELF
ASK…
Yourself what you need right now? Do you need to rest, move, be with people, head outside or laugh? Go inwards and see what comes up.
SPEND…
Some more time in the bathroom, adding some mindfulness to your routines. Whether you have a bath instead of a shower, take some more time to cleanse or massage in a body oil.
PRACTICE…
Your boundaries with Nedra Glover Tawwab's book ‘Set Boundaries, Find Peace’.
DO…
A self-compassion break with Dr. Kristin Neff, if you're feeling overwhelmed and any judgement comes up.