The Power to Observe
What is the best definition of observation?
1 : an act or the power of seeing or taking notice of something “His detailed description shows great powers of observation.” 2 : the gathering of information by noting facts or occurrences weather observations. 3 : an opinion formed or expressed after watching or noticing It's not a criticism, just an observation.
(from Merriam-Webster)
Despite all the insane events still happening in the state, country, world, most folks are all a-twitter about the Oscars… namely the moment where the soon to win best actor actor Will Smith publicly slapped comedian Chris Rock after Rock made a harmful joke about Smith’s wife, Jada’s, medical condition of hair loss.
Now of course, you probably know all of this and have been reading, watching and engaging in all the outcries of team Will or team Chris and the inundation of opinions.
One of the most important skills to have living in this time on uncertainty and technology, is the power to observe.
Hollywood has never ceased to grab center stage in our society and the obsession we have with all things fame is an addiction that distracts from reality.
Are there things to feel or think about this situation, sure.
Will it be handled by adults and academy and plenty of money. Yes.
Is it really the best use of our time and attention? No.
Could be learn a lot about ourselves, our values and the values of others by their response to this? Yes.
So much in life is designed to pull us into reaction. And we certainly are guilty of it- the second we hear a Black life is taken by the cop, we react. and so we are all working on it.
But no one was shot. This is a space where literal actors gather.
Is this the best use of our outrage and reactionary nature? No.
So step back, stop scrolling and tweeting letting Jada, Will and Chris work it out.
Put your attention back on what actually matters.
