Today I've come from a class and have been watching the viral youtube clip 'Where the Hell is Matt?'. It's an incredible video which at first glance made me think 'why on earth are we watching this?' because our teacher showed it to us in class. However after about 60 seconds I found I had tears in my eyes. Of course being in class I didn't want to cry but I must confess that when I came home after class today and watched in the privacy of my own home I did cry. Not with laughter, although it is also funny in a way, but because of two things. Firstly I love seeing people, especially lots of people, looking really happy. But mostly because here is a guy who honestly can't dance very well but doesn't care because he's doing something he enjoys and is clearly happy to be in a new place.
Needless to say when I discovered rumors of a hoax I am not ashamed to admit I was crushed. Thankfully it is NOT a hoax but just one example of human spirit. I've now watched it about 6 times just today because it makes me smile. We were asked if the video was creative and my answer is yes. It is (or was at the time) something new and is beautiful in its simplicity. I doubt I could ever create something like that but I like to look at things. I like to see myself as creative and even write stories on my computer late at night. However unlike Matt, who is obviously bolder than me, I have never shown them to anyone.
After being shown this video in my class today we were told to think outside the box. However as soon as the lecture was over it was back to the 'real world' of our test in two weeks. In that, like in most of life, we are not thinking outside the box. We are constantly crushed in to a shape which fits the society in which we live and I wonder if I'm the only one who at times feels suffocated. Imagine...just for a moment...if everyone allowed their creativity, their uniqueness, their spirit to be seen. And as an example I bring to mind another clip I was shown today. The 'piano stairs' is an example of how deep down I believe people want to smile. I believe that underneath the control, the do's and don't's, the rules, the regulations and the expectations of behaviour we are all creative fun-loving people. In my Politics class recently we had to choose if we were a realist, someone who essentially sees the world as it is so often presented - not particularly sharing or giving and that everyone is in it for themselves with their own agenda, or a Liberalist, someone who believes that in the end people are essentially decent. Of course my definitions are not exact but you get the idea. Anyway the point to all this is I am a Liberalist. I believe that when it gets right down to it people are fundamentally caring creatures and thankfully outside of the nightly news I see evidence of this all around me.
My point you ask? Well even though I do believe in basic human goodness I don't believe very many people are happy. And I'm not talking about 'I just bought a new cool phone' happy. I mean 'grinning because you feel like it, totally' happy. So why? Why, if we are essentially unhappy or dissatisfied do we keep doing the same things? If we only feel a buzz for a short time when we buy a new phone but a long buzz when we spend a night with our family or sing something special do we work all day so we can buy the new phone?
Me...I love to sing. I am happiest when I am either writing my stories late at night or singing in the car. I love to sing in the car because no one else is there, I can sing as loud as I like and no one hears me and I've also found it helps me remain more patient in traffic. I always take my iPod with me wherever I go and I don't care who in the next lane sees me singing. It makes me feel good and doesn't hurt anyone. I'd like to see more people do that. I know that unfortunally our society isn't arranged so that we can do whatever we want all the time but I ask if people really need to be working when they would rather be doing something more fulfilling. I realise that we all need to work but how about we work just a little less and spend more time on our fun, our happy time. If we don't enjoy life then what's the point? We're here (I believe) to learn and enjoy. Our learning isn't all book learning and exams and I personally prefer a point to my life that isn't rules and regulations. I'm going to keep singing in the car...what will you do?
To finish off here is the clip I was speaking of although personally I prefer viewing the HD version. Enjoy. :)
Give me your thoughts - What do you do that makes you genuinely happy? Have you done it today?