Graffiti and Ghosts
Finding connection in forgotten spaces
Recently, I found myself wandering through the grandstands of a long-abandoned dog track. What I stumbled upon was more than just graffiti, broken windows, and the scorched remains of a once-lively place. I discovered that skeletons in a closet are never truly gone and that the ugly truth of our humanity can rear its head humorously while still tugging at the strings of your soul.
The way the past resurfaces correlates with its preservation. If you have ever spent time in abandoned buildings and spaces, you can still feel the life left behind. The stories written and the lives lived linger in the air and the remnants. What is it about those who connect on different levels and still feel the souls that passed on? I have found that this connection leads us closer to a form of enlightenment. The ability to be in touch with something larger than ourselves is more than just inspiring for some; it’s the solution to many problems we seek refuge from.
The architectural design that has evolved and left its mark on humanity stamps a time on the space it occupies. The humans who have walked, bled, and shed tears on the same land can still be felt. This is why we can be drawn to the still lines of inanimate objects or the remains of ancient communities. There is something beyond our realm reaching out to us, attempting to communicate. The same can be said for the remains of our past.
It’s easy in the modern age to surround yourself with distractions in an attempt to distance yourself from a past that reminds you of hurtful things. After all, time heals all wounds, right? I am not so sure about that. The more time we have from our past may allow the memories to fade, but the stamp of our experiences is imprinted deep into our core. You need look no further than déjà vu for that truth!
As I wandered around this old place, a new surprise lay around each corner. Just like life, we may not know what is coming at us, but we can be sure the surprises along the way will stir something deep inside. If we don’t address the surprises as they come, they will become the skeletons waiting to haunt someone or something another day.