The Popup: The Observer

Ep: 4 The first time I met Jose Faus, I was at work, filming a video that told the stories of local artists. During filming, we had him read a poem. When he started to read, he put me in a state of awe. The power of an awe moment can be briefly described as microdosing mindfully and that is what Faus did to me in those moments, his words transformed me into a new world. I wasn’t at work anymore, I was now at a still lake witnessing two swans flying over the glassy water. Most people would witness this scene without thinking twice but for Faus this was a moment to wonder in. He didn’t just see these two swans flying but he related them to human relationships, flying in tandem off by one beat. When talking with Faus, I wanted to discover how to get to that awe moment he so easily put me in. His answer was more complex than you would think, again at first thought you would think it is simple, but it is not. His answer was to observe. Technically we observe moments everyday, all day long, but when diving deeper you find yourself skimming the scene and not really taking it fully in. I realized this when Faus gave the example of a bus stop. There is nothing more boring than waiting for a bus, instead of leaning into that moment, most people would allow distractions to take over like your phone. But, when truly observing, there's nothing boring here. We can watch how people interact with others. Do they circle in conversation or line up? Is this the first time people are riding a bus or is this a daily activity? Is there bus etiquette? How is the weather interacting with us, is it cold? Are people bundled up in coats or are their teeth scattering? Is it raining? Are umbrellas being used to stay dry or are people sticking out their tongue to catch raindrops? Is it hot, are people angry underneath their layers of sweat? How are the animals interacting now that we are in their space? The list of details can go on and on as long as you stay observing, you will find the story. You will find the awe. “There are a lot of things you could look at to daydream your day way,” Faus told me as he spoke about this bus stop. He wasn’t giving advice, but I took it as such. And it’s a challenge I want to give to you: when you see one moment, try to see a million.