Serenity, grounding, and awe
This year, I spent five weeks working in a summer camp for kids in Chalkidiki, in Northern Greece. Don’t ask me why I chose to commit to this engagement: my intentions were good, and the original plan was sound, yet everything went south, and the project turned into an unpleasant, suffocating – albeit, on many fronts, illuminating – experience. In addition to an already challenging setup, all non-camp related activities were banned – courtesy of the coronavirus – to minimize infection risk. Thus, life, limited to 12-15 hours per day of menial and unnecessarily stressful work, was also devoid of pleasure – no restaurants, no explorations, not even a glass of wine by the sea at night: everyone who entered the camp had to stay there for the duration of the season. So, despite everything, I consider myself somewhat lucky since, on a preferential arrangement, I was hosted in a nearby house, around 3km away from the camp, which allowed me the freedom of a 5-minute drive each day.
The scenery would be unvarying and, yet, ever-changing. Fascinated by the details, in awe with the inspiration generously offered by the natural ambience, I would pause to take photos, turning each little ride into a mini-adventure. With the curiosity of a child, I observed the ebbs and flows of the moon, a grey tempest looming at the horizon, the sea turning into quicksilver under the scorching sun, bats flying at night in front of my windshield, lonely beach umbrellas delineating against the twilight, the red hues of the sunset, the sparkle of Venus, clouds adding perspective to the two-dimensional sky, and, in the rare occasion of a breeze, pine needles dancing in the air with the density and elegance of a snowstorm.
During these few minutes of solitude, while intentionally focusing on the details that surrounded me rather than the ongoing pending issues in the camp, I found serenity and a much-needed grounding amidst a situation that was in sharp contrast to my lifestyle and mindset. I was reminded of the vastness that downplays our daily challenges, the beauty discovered in our backyards, and the peace inherent in the process of “savouring the moment”.
Unavoidably, there are times we might get impeded by a situation that depletes our energy and drowns our joy. Yet, inspiration and serenity – much like help in Hogwarts – can be found, even if only for a few minutes, when one asks for it. It is worth remembering.
Photo credits: © Konstantina Sakellariou
