My world changed the day I visited the Wynwood Arts District in Miami Florida. I was on vacation July 4th weekend, experiencing the beauty of a land I had never visited. This wasn't new to me, I traveled often prior to this trip across the globe. Typical tourist behaviors, hit up the high yelp rated locations, Instagram a few pictures, and snap a story or two.
I didn't expect this trip to Miami to be any different. The plan was simple, a few buddies and I would fly down to Fort Lauderdale, spend the night and uber to downtown Miami in the am. Trip went exactly as planned and even had enough time to get a quick tan on south beach.
That night we yelped for something to do. The Arts district seemed like a great location. So we ubered over knowing absolutely nothing about what we were about to see. As we entered the district drove through to our destination I noticed beautifully decorated buildings .
'Cool, great spot for some snaps' I thought
We arrived infront of the Wynwood Art Walk. It was later in the evening and the sun was setting. As we went through the entrance, a few walls were covered with art pieces, I considered okay. At that point, I didn't really "get" art.
Turning into the next section of the path, my eyes quickly gazed into one of the most beautiful images I'd ever seen. An eye covered in randomness and complete chaos. An eye which to me felt truthful and sincere. An eye that seemed to overcome its surroundings yet live amongst it in harmony. I looked over to my companions and my heart dropped.
I could see them looking at all the walls but it didn't seem real to me. It felt robotic. Look at the piece, take a picture, occasionally take a selfie, move on to the next and repeat. I noticed other strangers there did the same thing, and I felt a weight suddenly fall over my body. I felt myself trapped. In front of me was a truth I had never known in my life yet searched for. It all hit me so quickly. It was a realization, that the beauty of a moment is us being in that moment. Giving away control of our surroundings and feeling that harmony of chaos and order within ourselves.
I looked over to my friend who held out his camera. I can't really remember what he was saying but I felt as he pointed the camera at me the sense of freedom fleeting away from me and I panicked. It's difficult to explain the feeling I felt but after some reflection I believe it was a sense of having the cultural imposed order taking over that moment in which I felt I could do anything. I didn't want that moment to pass me, I didn't want order, I wanted harmony. In that split second my body went into a handstand. I felt like a feather, free and gliding in the air.
My friends thought it was a gag, but to me I learned one of the most important lessons of my young life. Embrace the moment for all of its elements. The harmony of chaos and order. Just as we have accepted order as beauty, we can also induce chaos to bring out the full beauty of a moment.
Handstands to me have become that contrast to expectations of order. Today, I feel free knowing this truth and have continued to handstand across the globe and truly experience every moment I come across
Here is the picture my friend took.
Sabatooth