Look up
My mind is mush.
Today was one of those beautiful days: sunshine, warm weather and a handful of mini-accomplishments. Then, in my German course, rather than focusing on articles and grammar, I spent a vast majority of it talking philosophy with one of my fellow students. In hushed (English) whispers, we spoke of dancing alone in the woods, of birthdays and building things. We spoke of humanity, solitude and technology.
For me, spring seems to have brought in more than just some spring cleaning. I’m trying to revitalize my lookout on life. My thoughts and my philosophies have been under the microscope for the past few months, and now they’re starting to get a serious scrubbing.
Philosophizing has been a long-time favorite word of mine. Books like The Plague and Sophie’s World only fueled my interest. Over the past few months, I’ve been philosophizing more and more. Sure, it’s a lot of thinking and not always a lot of doing, but a boy has to start somewhere.
Today in Berlin I decided to take all that thinking and actually meditate. I walked up the nearest hill, laid down on a bench and looked up. The sky above me stretched up. With few people around, the noise blocked by the wind, all I could see was what was above me. There’s something exhilarating when you suddenly see nothing. I think it’s what makes photos of the horizon so popular. There’s all that potential for something further away. But by lying down and looking up, I felt as connected to my place in the world (right here, right now) as I did to what’s beyond—wherever and whatever that is.
Berlin’s sky tonight
We spend so much time planning and preparing but so little time living in the moment. I spent 10 minutes this evening watching a pair of mosquitoes fly around my head. It was thrilling and exciting, and boring and tiring. But even just that tiny fragment of my day spent without worry or thought was enough to clear my mind.
So next time your mind is aflutter, I suggest taking a moment, finding an open space, blocking out the world…and looking up. There’s a lot you can find up there.
Other photos from when I’ve looked up
A hawk at Taronga Zoo in Sydney
Bryant Park, NYC
On the Esplanade along the Charles River, Boston
Manhattan
Camping in Masada, Israel
Valencia, Spain
Chefchaouen Medina (Old City), Morocco
Penguin Hostel in Dahab, Egypt
Even your photos are looking like philosophical!! Great Work!
Thanks for the kind words Teo!
These are some great pics. Sometimes we just need to lay back and enjoy life!
Thanks Brian. “Enjoying life” is one of the most important things to do, if you ask me.
My partner’s really into meditation. I haven’t been able to get in to it yet, but I’d like to give it more of a try. I do like reading for philosophizing, especially books by Alain de Botton like “How Proust Can Change Your Life” and “Consolations of Philosophy”. Sounds like you’d probably like his writing if you don’t already know it.
Cheers for the book recommendations Sam. I know Alain de Botton but haven’t read those yet. Personally I’ve found meditation to be a great escape.
Love your (photographic) moments of Zen, Adam! Hope you’ve got a lot more UP-moments from Berlin! ;-)
Thanks Henry. What a nice compliment coming from a photographer like yourself!
I thought I was the only one who did this sort of thing haha
Nope you’re not alone Aaron! In fact, it makes me happy to know that someone else does it too :)
I love the photo of the hawk, so majestic
Thanks Kea – it’s an old favorite photo of mine
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