When I studied abroad in Toledo, Spain I remember some of the best advice I received was also some of the most unexpected.
Don’t forget to look up.
As I write while giving my own take on travel tips in my final post of Katie Speaks Spanish, “Visual simulation tends to be concentrated in your immediate peripheral view, but a lot stands to be lost if you fail to take in the entirety of your surroundings. You will often be surprised by what you find above.”
There’s something wonderfully simple and humbling about this sentiment. Often in life we are so ultra-zoomed in on a specific problem that we lose site of the bigger picture. Living this way situates us so we are working and thinking in silos; it negatively impacts our ability to empathize and understand a plurality of perspectives, and it disproportionately magnifies areas of challenge and frustration so that they ultimately consume our lives. The closer we are to something, the harder it is to see anything other than that thing, and the more likely we are to let our grossly myopic views overwhelm – and maybe even hijack – our reality.
However, when we zoom out, when we step back, when we force ourselves to look up, things suddenly come into clearer focus. We begin to notice details we may not have previously recognized, and we become more able to ground ourselves in truth and possibility. We start to have the wisdom and foresight to ask ourselves: Will this still matter to me in 5 minutes? 5 hours? 5 days? 5 weeks? 5 years?
Likely not.
We become better able to reflect: Is there something I’m missing? Is there something else I’m not seeing?
When we zoom out – when we look up – the answer is most certainly always yes.
In an intentional attempt to broaden my perspective and look out so I can look up, Cam and I recently decided to go on a little scavenger hunt of sorts to seek out new, undiscovered gems around the Twin Cities that are simply hiding in plain sight. Minnesota teems with rich color, vivacity, and soul, and there’s so much light and beauty to be found even in the most unexpected places. In fact, Minneapolis alone has over 35 big, bold, audacious murals that celebrate the city’s rich history and bring locals joy on a daily basis. I’ve passed by a few of these on my way to work before[1], but I was curious to explore other art that doesn’t fall along my typically trodden path. So, in what has become typical Katie-Cam fashion we outlined a game plan, sketched out a travel route, picked up some coffees, and hit the road for another art-themed local scavenger hunt adventure[2]!
We drove through the burbs, ventured around Uptown, and snaked through the heart of the city itself. We took in the bold striking colors of Valspar, saw larger than life slobbery bulldogs, and admired the Minneapolis College of Art and Design’s funky student-created graphic collage.
We also explored various tributes to local artists and change-makers. From the purple-hued homage to Prince, to the fun-loving lake-themed prints by prominent Minnesota artist Adam Thurman, to the seemingly infinite white stars of the First Avenue mural that honor the many musicians (many of whom are local) that played at the iconic music venue, there’s something really special about seeing a city embrace its culture and celebrate the many individuals who live life loudly and dare to color outside the lines.
With each new stop, I appreciated the careful detail and vast variety in every mural we saw. Each project modeled a different approach and took on a very unique, individualized style, and yet every art piece was also filled with unexpected splendor and vibrant pops of creativity that visibly changed my mood. I particularly liked a pop art-inspired downtown mural that features a couple of movie stars and a bright pink vintage car. The scene is just so unexpected, animated, and unlike anything we typically see on a regular basis, and I admire how this zingy, punchy piece can’t help but repurpose an otherwise ordinary corner of the city and transform it as extraordinary.
Something special happens when we shake things up and dare boldly enough to step outside our perspective; magic takes hold when we immerse ourselves in something fresh, new, and other. When we do this, we often find that ideas spark, possibilities bloom, and the world begins to glisten with a little more life and color.
I urge you to pause, readjust your aperture, and really take a moment to scan your surroundings so you are able to fully take in the vast possibility of all that surrounds you.
For when we look around, we realize life unveils itself in beautiful, mysterious ways. And when we look up, we realize anything is truly possible so long as we allow ourselves to forever be surprised.
[1] When I was still actually driving in to work, that is.
[2] I see you “There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather” and “Painting the Roses Red, ‘Vivid Tangerine,’ and Every Color in Between.”
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