Walter Mitty: When are you going to take it?
Sean O'Connell: Sometimes I don't. If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don't like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.
Walter Mitty: Stay in it?
Sean O'Connell: Yeah. Right there. Right here.
This little exchange is from the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", while the main character and the photographer witness a snow leopard for the first time. Although the scene is fairly simple, it is also very convicting of current culture in America.
Last weekend, I had the privilege of seeing my two favorite music artists in the same concert: Mat Kearney and Needtobreathe (if you read that sentence casually, I'd like to emphasize that my two FAVORITES were in the SAME concert... That is all). John Mark McMillan happened to be with them as well, and if that's not a triple threat, I don't know what is.
Long story short, I was a little excited.
As the lights dimmed and the concert started, my anticipation grew. I pulled out my phone to record everything for sentimental reasons, of course. To my dismay, the battery icon showed only 17% and glowed a deathly red. Given the situation, one might call this a tragedy.
I made sure to capture as many of my favorite songs as I could, but my phone's life was taken just before Mat finished his set list. Needtobreathe hadn't even come out yet, so I told myself I'd just have to pay super close attention. I wanted to be able to revisit the upcoming moments in my mind, whether or not I had video footage.
IT WAS SO MUCH BETTER. Oh my goodness.
Although I don't have any clips from Needtobreathe's performance, I can honestly say the memory of it is so real. I lived it so fully, taking in everything around me. The lights, the stories shared about what each song meant. My feet ached from dancing, and my voice was gone from singing along (the only acceptable way to experience a concert). Most importantly, however, I was present with those around me.
This is how life is meant to be lived, people.
Side note: This is not a target at photographers. I love taking pictures and videos and editing them to enhance their beauty and essence. I have been practicing photography for quite some time now, and I will continue to do so.
I'm talking about living fully. About being present in the moment to have a clear memory of it. About being more engaged with real life and real people than with a screen and editing tools. You may come to find your best memories are those only captured with the mind.
In so many areas of life, balance and moderation are vital. Take your pictures, post your Instagrams and Snapchats if you so desire. But don't let that be the focus of the moment. Don't capture a moment for the cost of a memory. Be intentional.
My room mate, Karly, and I had a conversation about this just the other day. Something she said really resonated with me and with the message I'm trying to convey.
"Sometimes the picture is distracting and you miss the moment."
Don't miss the moment. Because in reality, isn't life a bunch of little moments over a lot of time? If every moment is missed, what does life become once time is spent?
Stay in the moment.
Right there.
Right here.
Live beyond the lens.
