If you love Tennessee Williams as much as I do, you already smiled because you recognized the quote from a Streetcar Named Desire. Don’t we all have a few drops of Blanche DuBois somewhere inside us? A little dreamer who can’t go along with the world around them and aches to escape in their own way…
I am still wondering though… What really is “realism” and what separates it from “magic”? Aren’t there parts of one in the other? Let’s define realism as everyday life and everything that goes with it – the struggles, the routine, the alarm that goes off on Monday morning etc…. I am not by any means implying that getting up at 6:30 a.m. on a Monday is poetic, don’t get me wrong but… smiling to your neighbor, who also just got out of his apartment with a thermos in his hand, their hair still messed up and an expression that looks exactly like yours, is kind of poetic. It’s what I call “magic” because even if that only lasted for a moment, you’ll both forget it in the next sixty seconds and get on with your days, it was enough to make you feel you’re not alone.
Magic is hidden in the details. The people who know how to find it, find happiness easily. So learn to enjoy the little moments and learn to observe and appreciate. Bring along the people around you and get them to smile more. And if they’re still grumpy complaining endlessly about that alarm that has to go off on a Monday morning, that’ ok. You can always rely on the kindness of strangers.
(I am winking at you at the moment)
have a magical day!
by Elena Ktenopoulou
