Frizzworld

A few weeks ago I had the chance to have some Reiki, which is a type of healing. I was a bit skeptical at first, but it turned out to be an incredibly positive and inspiring experience. Much of it was centered on change and understanding we can change the choices we make.

On Monday I went to Oxford to work for The Photographer for the first time since the move. On the way home I met an acquaintance who told me about having her camera stolen and how devastated she’d been by the experience; it had taken her two years to get a new camera and she was still obviously upset. I’ve had a camera stolen and I’ve left another one (with my favorite ever picture on the film still inside it) in a taxi. Both times I just went out and bought a new one and it struck me, whilst I was listening to her, that that was a choice I made at the time and I thought about the photos I wouldn’t have now if I’d decided not to get another camera, what I would have lost. We had both reacted in completely different ways to similar incidences and suddenly I could see what a huge difference such a simple choice could make.

Then yesterday coincidently, I had two discussions about choice and fate. One wrangled it’s way there from somewhere else and another one was a group discussion and it just happened to be the topic for that meeting.

So I’m thinking about two things, firstly, being able to see the choices, because I don’t think I always have done in the past and secondly, to let myself choose the reaction that is most positive. I think what it boils down to is not getting so hurt and being able to let go, which doesn’t mean forgetting, because I still think about that picture left behind in my camera, but I’ve also got all the pictures I’ve taken since.

Goes without saying it’s easier said than done.