This was originally posted on www.YourChangingDirection.com in 2009
“Examine what is said, not who speaks”
(Arabian proverb)
While I was in London last week I took the opportunity to wander over to see a performance art project that is taking place on the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square.
Originally built in 1841 the 4th plinth never had its intended statue insitue as funds ran out before the project was completed. Now it houses more temporary projects.
July 6thsaw the first of 2,400 people step onto that plinth as part of Antony Gormley’s 100 day living monument, “One & Other”. Trafalgar Square is probably better known as an area that is normally visited for its monuments to royalty and generals. This project allows a different person to take centre stage, so to speak, every hour 24 hours a day until 14th October.
As the project has gone on there have been many many different approaches to how those participating choose to spend their hour. There have been people campaigning for a cause that they believe passionately in, there havebeen those who entertained with readings, performance or interactive games of bingo with the surrounding crowd. One plinther dressed as a mime artist finished his hour with lots of tears and champagne after he proposed to his girlfriend and she said yes.
Topics have been emotional, passionate, entertaining and light hearted. Certainly from what I saw the project appears to be attracting attention from those passing by and had a small crowd who were watching and interacting. It’s also possible to watch via the internet. To see a live feed of the current occupant visit http://www.oneandother.co.uk/
Prior to their hour future “plinthers” have spent various amounts of time pondering how they were use their hour. In fact you can read some of their comments online and in various interviews.
So how would you spend your hour? The draw to be a plinther is now closed but if you had that opportunity, even if you found it scary, funny or just plain bizarre what would you do? If you had a message what would you want it to be?
Mahatma Gandhi when he was asked if he had a message for his people “My life is my message.”
If you were to take centre stage today and your life is your message what would it say?
I know that when I first heard that question there was lots of worthy things I’d have liked it to say. However, honestly, a more accurate message would have been; get close to getting opportunities then get scared and hide in the background for a bit longer.
This week I invite you to play with the question if your life was your message what would it be?
If it’s not what you would like it to be you could “beat yourself up about it” or you could bear in mind that firstly it helps with any communication if you first know what you want to communicate.
What would you like the message of your life to be?
If you’veever written a speech or some other form of communication it’s quite possible that you went through a few different versions with various tweaks and possibly major rewrites before you got a really clear message. So if you feel that your life doesn’t currently reflect what you want it to, you can always take action to get that message more aligned with what you want.
What is one huge step you could choose to take it closer to what you want?
What is one tiny tweak that would take you closer to what you want your life to be about?
Have a wonderful week
Love
Jen