Share a Moment

The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer really caused me to think about the way I fit in this world. She is so accepting and admiring of the world around her, finding beauty in the minutest things. This concept is something I think people need to do more often, so I did a performance on campus.

Share a Moment was about taking a moment from the hustle and bustle of every day and looking around and appreciating life. My performance was simple, I sat and asked people to sit and share a moment with me. Many people ignored me or made and excuse as to why they couldn’t stop. Even though I wasn’t asking for any particular amount of time, I just wanted them to take a moment to stop and breathe. Others said they would be back with sadness in their eyes clearly needing a moment to relax but unable to make the choice to take it. I did not say much during my performance for I found it was unnecessary; the silence was uncomfortable for most people so they spoke to me and I listened intently. Of the very few people who stopped to share a moment with me, half of them stayed for about an hour or more telling me about themselves and the worries they have with the new school year. For a brief time it turned into a venting session with everyone spilling out their troubles onto the blanket, allowing the others to see them as they were, feeling lost.

Everyone who stopped and sat with me was apprehensive at first, but when asked if my performance was useful, they all agreed that they were happy they spent the time with me. This whole performance made me more appreciative of my surroundings and want to be friendlier to people, reach out and say hello to people I don’t know. I always knew I wasn’t the only one feeling lost in college, but now I feel more inclined to reach out and show others that they are not alone and are seen.

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“Share a Moment was about taking a moment from the hustle and bustle of every day and looking around and appreciating life.”