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Looking Glass

Most deplore the trash in parks but walk on, some roll-up their sleeves and clean it up and a rare few turn into works of art. The artist's answer to the question what she sees in other people's trash is poignant:

I think it’s been a lot of self-reflection, like finding a water bottle and thinking about the number of times I forgot my reusable water bottle and had to purchase a plastic one at the store. It has really helped me build more sustainable habits. That’s the point of my art: picking up an object and seeing myself in it. It’s helped me be hyper aware of my own footprint and how I can reduce my own impact.

For some reason, that made me think about why I like watching movies about people in highly dysfunctional, chaotic and stressful life situations. For one thing, there is always something to be learned from how the characters cope or fail to do so. More importantly, it helps me put my own life in perspective. While a lot of has been off the beaten track and involved complications that people with more "normal" lives don't face, much of it is very pedestrian. Specially when compared to the characters in the movie. They reflect the reality of some lives even if in a very distorted, hyperbolic way. Sometimes, the story can be subtle and nuanced with no right or wrong answers. That resonates with me.  

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