A moment of clarity
Why is it that airports are not an all powerful centre of philosphical thought? It has been many centuries, eons even, since the airport served nothing more than the humble port of transport. Some say airports did not exist eons ago, to those people I say: have you nothing better to do than critise my blog? Okay, so where is this going?
There is something about airports and stations of transit that bring out the best in me. The curious side. Thousands of lives are passing, sharing this one portal, for just a brief moment in time. These people come in all shapes and sizes, are carrying different loads and heading different places. This must fundamentally affect how they are feeling and viewing the building/location around them. Me: I am off to a conference in Czech Republic... the family next to me are returning to Austria after living here for 'a while'... if this is an example of two frames of mind: what must the other thousand look like?
Mei and I caught up for lunch today. We talked MC talk, direction etc etc before drifting into how people are doing etc etc. That conversation sparked a memory of what I was up to this time last year. It made me realise how much of my personality had changed since I returned to Australia in March last year. This time last year I was in Val Paraiso, Chile. I was tired after many weeks of travel and hiking. I was returning to the first world after having my third eye ripped open by the wonders of northern Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Chile is not Bolivia. Things work, prices are modern, they have a functioning transport system. To take it one example further: in January Chile elected an ex political prisoner, a woman to boot, as their President. Bolivia elected a coca farmer whose previous political position was the head of a farmers union.
I documented my trip well. Using the humble pen and diary format. In these last few weeks I have been studying my diaries trying to capture some of the carefree spirit that the trip had instilled in me. One could argue it was the fact I was floating up river on a barge drinking tea and fishing with the locals... but I think it is something extra.
At the time I was following the line: no matter what the situation it is you that control your response. You have no control over external factors but what you do have control over is how you deal with the situation. Smile and nod was the thought at the time, just chill and things will work out. That was a little under twelve months ago... so what happened?
Not sure. Somewhere it was lost. So hear I am at the airport making a concerted effort to reclaim this mentality. The link is this: around me are people heading every which way in life, some are heading for adventures, some to sick families, some are moving forever... one thing we all share is this airport. It is the constant in this story.
It is all about how we interpret what we see. How we respond to the people and the variables that come and go. Whether I enjoy life, enjoy every passing moment, depends on whether I decide to enjoy it or not.
Right now I am in an airport on my way to Prague. About to visit a friend of mine and see his new life. About to attend a conference of two hundred inspirational people. About to catch up with an old friend I haven't seen in ten months. It is going to be great.
A quote I have been using of late comes from Pulp Fiction: 'I do believe I have just had, what drunks call, a moment of clarity'.
cheers
W
There is something about airports and stations of transit that bring out the best in me. The curious side. Thousands of lives are passing, sharing this one portal, for just a brief moment in time. These people come in all shapes and sizes, are carrying different loads and heading different places. This must fundamentally affect how they are feeling and viewing the building/location around them. Me: I am off to a conference in Czech Republic... the family next to me are returning to Austria after living here for 'a while'... if this is an example of two frames of mind: what must the other thousand look like?
Mei and I caught up for lunch today. We talked MC talk, direction etc etc before drifting into how people are doing etc etc. That conversation sparked a memory of what I was up to this time last year. It made me realise how much of my personality had changed since I returned to Australia in March last year. This time last year I was in Val Paraiso, Chile. I was tired after many weeks of travel and hiking. I was returning to the first world after having my third eye ripped open by the wonders of northern Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Chile is not Bolivia. Things work, prices are modern, they have a functioning transport system. To take it one example further: in January Chile elected an ex political prisoner, a woman to boot, as their President. Bolivia elected a coca farmer whose previous political position was the head of a farmers union.
I documented my trip well. Using the humble pen and diary format. In these last few weeks I have been studying my diaries trying to capture some of the carefree spirit that the trip had instilled in me. One could argue it was the fact I was floating up river on a barge drinking tea and fishing with the locals... but I think it is something extra.
At the time I was following the line: no matter what the situation it is you that control your response. You have no control over external factors but what you do have control over is how you deal with the situation. Smile and nod was the thought at the time, just chill and things will work out. That was a little under twelve months ago... so what happened?
Not sure. Somewhere it was lost. So hear I am at the airport making a concerted effort to reclaim this mentality. The link is this: around me are people heading every which way in life, some are heading for adventures, some to sick families, some are moving forever... one thing we all share is this airport. It is the constant in this story.
It is all about how we interpret what we see. How we respond to the people and the variables that come and go. Whether I enjoy life, enjoy every passing moment, depends on whether I decide to enjoy it or not.
Right now I am in an airport on my way to Prague. About to visit a friend of mine and see his new life. About to attend a conference of two hundred inspirational people. About to catch up with an old friend I haven't seen in ten months. It is going to be great.
A quote I have been using of late comes from Pulp Fiction: 'I do believe I have just had, what drunks call, a moment of clarity'.
cheers
W
posted by Westy at 4:42 PM
2 Comments:
who can forget your long emails about Latin America who kept me entertained during my boring 8 hours of work, the reason why i am planning to backpack through south america somtime before i am 35 (by then i would have enough money)
shout out to you all the way down under! hope to see you in the old world sometime soon, was great catching up with ya in cairo. u comin in april right? this time i will be a better host i promise!
yup yup yup
enjoy the return of the part of you that got left behind! :)
chat soon,
luv flic xxx
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