Experience, or images

The highlight of our day, spent roaming from one amazing stall to another at the Dubai Shopping festival, was supposed to be the spectacular fireworks show in the night.

We had heard a lot about it, and had seen photographs and videos my friend Charu had painstakingly captured for us to see. She was our host and she had planned our itinerary so meticulously, to ensure that we did not miss a single wonder Dubai had to offer through that week. We didn’t know it then, but it turned out to be the last year of such lavish fireworks in the Dubai shopping festival, with the economy crashing later, it just never happened.

Timing ourselves precisely to ensure that we had a ringside view of the fireworks we were thrilled to have managed a front row seating. Shawls and pullovers on, and all cameras and video cameras out and ready, waiting for the fireworks to start.

Sharp at 9 pm (I think it was 9), the show started. I was, and used to take pride in being, the official photographer in my family. I took the best shots, knew how to frame, my hands were steady so the video didn’t jump and dance. So, from the first firework that was lit, I sat there and focused hard on getting the entire show captured in my handycam, with my eyes glued to the small, 2X2 monitor of my camera.

The show was over! And I realised that all through, I had watched this spectacular, larger than life show, through a 2X2 screen, while it was happening in front of me! How could it be? The best experience, the awesomeness of the grand, huge, and breathtaking display, reduced to a 2X2 frame!! I can tell you, I felt cheated, I felt miserable, and I asked myself all through the hour long drive back home if I was smart.

I also promised myself that day that I was going to be careful to choose to experience the moment from then on, and not focus on capturing badges and tokens for posterity – photographs and memories for the future. I have stuck to this promise I made myself. All through our travels around the world, I would refuse to open the camera till I had had my fill of the experience. Sometimes, I have clearly stated that we should just enjoy the moment not bother about capturing it on the camera. If someone else wanted to be the cameraman, I happily gave it away.

And I think the strategy worked. Funnily, it worked in giving me wonderful experiences AND wonderful memories. I have less photographs and videos than many, but I can still FEEL the rapture, the wonder at nature, of seeing the clouds disperse and the sun come out over the Grand Canyon; the lions looking up at us disdainfully before sauntering off into the under bush at Gir; The moon rising over the Rann of Kutch, slowly changing it to silver; No camera could capture that for me.

After all, I have worked hard, saved money, and travelled all the way, with my dear ones, to experience these events LIVE, and very often these were once in a lifetime – and I don’t want to consciously choose to give that experience a miss, to contain it in a small 2X2 camera monitor. Nothing live about it!

Oh by the way, these days I guess the monitors are larger, so I suppose it is not so bad 😉

Follow me for more thoughts, tips and tricks that can provoke thought, and can contribute to raising the level of excellence in individuals, leaders, organizations and families.  Organization’s transformation starts with individuals.