Everything becomes more beautiful when you look differently

In November we organized the photo and writing workshop ‘details of life’. Participants walked slowly and silently part of our route. The assignment was to take a photo of a detail along the way that struck them, touched them or inspired them. Those who wanted to, wrote down that experience with this ‘detail’ after the run. Below is a report by co-initiator Marit Polman – with before and after contributions from participants.

On Saturday, November 2, Damien and I walked the first 750 meters of the Walk of Wisdom with 12 enthusiastic ‘detail wonderers’ during the workshop ‘Details of life’. I was curious what detail would catch my eye and what the other ‘wonderers’ on the route would see.

In the beginning, my eye was still a bit forced. A worn bicycle light dangling from a handlebar made a gloomy impression on me. As I took more steps, my stride slowed down and that of the other wonderers. My gaze started to perceive more details in a natural way. A new shoot stuck out of a pruned branch. In this way, every pruning gives new life. The silence and slowness gave space to let my thoughts come, to think about and to let go.

I was surprised by the many details that became visible while they had been there all along. A remnant of a rainbow flag hung from a lamppost with lost pride. A reflection in a car door curved the straight lines of the well. A mixture of details in nature and city emerged from the apparent nowhere in a surprising way. With different eyes I perceived the surroundings of Nijmegen that were so familiar to me.

From behind their windows, residents expressed their unrest in black and white posters. The color of fallen autumn leaves gave beauty to my path. In the bushes of the Valkhof Park there were plastic cups that told the story of a summer full of fun. At the Infocenter WW2 I saw the “now” in the reflection of the past.

I let myself be touched by everything that encompassed my path. Details gave thoughts and thoughts gave words. The words came loose. Once back in the St. Stevens Church, the experienced connection with the details flowed together with the words spoken.

The silence of the tour, the slowness and the details made me feel richer because of their simplicity. In few words I expressed my connection with my details. I shared them with the other participants. This led to beautiful conversations and I enjoyed a hot cappuccino with delicious apple pie. Whatever detail stood out, everything becomes more beautiful when you look differently.

I float
Thoughtless
Unlimited space
Invisibly connected

Wingless yet feather-light

Marit Polman

Letting go: space for something new

A picture can say more than many words. When I heard about the photography/writing workshop organized by the Walk of Wisdom , planned on the day before the last leg of the series of silent walks, it was immediately clear to me. Participating was meaningful, as part of reflecting on what participation in the silent walks had brought me.

The intention I had expressed during the departure ceremony in the Valkhof Chapel was simple: to let go of everything that no longer served me. The implementation was a lot more difficult. This intention came up at every stage. In the run-up to the last walk, I made notes about the state of affairs: where I stood, what did I still want to let go of and what was needed for that.

Again I walked from the Stevenskerk to the Valkhof Chapel, in silence, with the assignment to take pictures of what I noticed. A tree caught my attention, the place where a branch had been in particular. I wanted a photo of just the tree, with that spot, zoomed in with my not really suitable phone and pressed the button. Actually, I didn’t really understand what was so worthwhile in that composition.

I walked on slowly, around the Valkhof Chapel clockwise and decided to look at my harvest that morning. Then I saw it: the tree, amputated by the loss of a branch, the heart-shaped wound that has healed as a result and the growth of a new, still small branch, with green leaves. The photo reflects the outcome of my inner process during the past year. It’s unbelievable.

Joke Buringa

Moss on a saddle

Place of birth Nijmegen
Born, raised
Baby, toddler, kindergarten tunes,
primary school, studying, first job
And then left

Now many years later
Memories
Like moss on a saddle
of a lifetime

My mother just died
Just retired
Lots of time for myself
What am I going to do with that?

Carla Beks

What do we learn from it?

Reflection, of the past in the present
What does that say about the future?
The destroyed city has been rebuilt.
The scars remain.
Scar was once lick mark – corpse mark.
Life and death.
What do we pass on to the next generation?
What truth reflects?
What lingers from what once was?
And what do we do with it, what do we learn from it?
Hope and fear compete for precedence.
The youth cannot do without hope.
I know that from my own experience.

Wim Ballemans

Everything becomes more beautiful when you look differently – by Marit Polman (e.a.)