Hey everyone, let me start off by hoping everyone’s had a very Merry Christmas. I haven’t been in work over the holidays, so this Chapter isn’t a story from the Artz Centre, but the lesson from this story is one I’ll be taking back to work with me this year. It took place over those quiet days between Christmas and New Year.
One night I felt overwhelmingly… well… overwhelmingly bored. I’d read so many books that day, that trying to absorb any more words off a page would cause the letters to turn into alphabet soup as soon as they’d reach my brain. Plus before Christmas my phone had broke, rendering the screen almost useless. I was literarily stuffed and virtually unplugged.
I decided to go for a walk, something I like to do to relax. I’d go just past my neighbourhood and along a country road. It was just going to be me, my thoughts and the calm of the night.
Halfway in, I spotted someone. On the bridge I was just about to walk over, there was a man crouched behind a chunky looking camera, taking pictures of the night sky. Not thinking much of it, I walked past him and that was that for my brief encounter with photographer-man. So I thought.
While crossing the bridge before I paused, noticing I’d become quite curious about photographer-man. Was he a professional? An amateur? What exactly was he photographing? Mostly I wondered: “why not go back and find out?”
I ought to insert a disclaimer here: I know it is dangerous to talk to strangers. There’s plenty of parents out there ready to give me a scolding for having even considered going back and talking to this guy. So to any of the students reading this, I think you should always be careful and cautious in any station you’re in.
That being said, I began to re-analyse the situation. I thought about how he politely stepped aside for me as I walked passed and how he stood eagerly at his camera. He’d seemed more afraid of me than I had of him!
I went back to him and asked what he was photographing tonight. From that one question an entire conversation sprung out. The photographer pointed out the constellations he was shooting, explained his camera to me and discussed his love for photography. Eventually our conversation came to its natural end. We wished each other happy new year and I walked back over the bridge carrying on my route, thinking about our discussion.
He’d mentioned he was using a pretty cheap camera, that it was the best one he could afford. Although it was old, damaged and didn’t have too many features, he wasn’t bothered! I was so impressed at the man for doing something he loved rather than finding reasons not to. It reminded me of just how many passionate and determined people there are out there.
What was the point to this story then? Well, It reminded me of an old lesson I was taught as a student at the Artz Centre. Before each production the director would sit the cast down and would remind us to speak to new people backstage.
“That when you go out of your comfort zone and speak to someone you haven’t spoken to before, that is where the wisdom comes from.”.
In 2020 I think I’ll be drawing on this experience a lot. The centre has launched a massive recruitment drive to grow the team. So at some point this coming year I may have an opportunity to chat to a potential new teammate. I’ll remember this and remember how valuable it is to seize that opportunity and go over to talk to them. Excitedly I’ll step out of my own comfort zone, because it may turn out that they have a great deal of wisdom to offer me
In Summary, while being away from the Artz Centre these past few weeks, the lessons I’ve learnt there, and still learning today, haven’t left me one bit. I feel like a better person because of it. I kept myself open to the belief that when you take a risk and reach out to new people, you can walk away unequivocally pleased and proud of yourself, having spread a little bit of kindness around.
– Joe