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This is a video that’s doing the rounds at the moment that I LOVE IT.
It’s called Take a Seat, Make a Friend and it’s basically a giant ball pit in the middle of a public area, that encourages two strangers to sit in it. Inside the ball pit are balloons with questions written on them like, ‘Find something you have in common’ or ‘What’s on your bucket list?’, etc. Simple things that provoke strangers to ask questions, share and learn about each other.
I love that this installation encourages people to play – a thing which a lot of people don’t seem to do on a regular basis. It is so easy to get sucked up into the daily grind of work/money/relationship/life and just general stress that we forget to play. I do it all the time. Like when I go on blog hiatus for months on end… When I did my clown workshop recently, I thought that I would feel and look like an idiot for the whole weekend. Sure, I did but the fact that my clown teacher gave me a space to play in and the permission to be an idiot, made me able to silly walk my heart out.
I like that Take a Seat, Make a Friend encourages people to break out of their own bubble and connect with another. Sometimes it feels like everyone is just talking over one another; leaving little room for listening. Which is DUMB because every single person has a million experiences that none of us have lived exactly the same. Or that everyone is immersed in their own 140 character online updates. Yawn.
That being said, it is difficult to talk to randoms because in the past when I’ve done it, they usually assume I am trying to sell them something or that I want something from them. Or you know, like the other day when I did it and a woman thought I was deranged and possibly hitting on her. Smooth.
I’d love to see something like this in Auckland or you know, just more people taking time out from themselves and talking to one another.
What do you think?
SoulPancake do some brilliant videos. And it’s been too long since I was in a ball pit – what a great idea!
xx Dee