Gifting in the Street

street art

 

Gifting in the Street

I have heard that street performances are the most honest form of theatre; it is one where the performance is paid for after the show, and the value determined by the audience, rather than a predetermined price paid before the show begins.

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Street performances are very much aligned with the mentality of the gift. Here I am – here is my gift – I am giving you my most authentic expression in this moment, regardless of whether or not it is received, simply because I love to. A gift’s value, felt and expressed by the receiver, is reflected in the post-performance payment. Another aspect of the gift is the intimate connection it creates between giver and receiver – a connection that is much more likely to be made possible on the street rather than a large stadium with thousands of people.

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This past weekend, I took a leap outside my comfort zone and gave of my gift on a street in San Francisco. A major reason I was able to find the inspiration and courage to busk was that I was partnered up with a beautiful soul on the banjo (while I played my drum and shared some spoken poetry, or flowetry). Both of the gifts I chose to share are new additions to my life and I would not consider myself very good at either – but that is not the point of giving. Gifts do not have to be perfect, nor should they be. It is the imperfections that make them unique and authentic. Despite this openness to share my new gifts, I still found myself struck with nervousness.

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The reframe required to love through my nervousness was that we were simply playing in the street. Only when I allowed the wings of play to soar – spontaneity, creativity, imagination, flow, passion, a letting go of attachment to results and fear of failure – was I able to feel the fun take flight. Somewhere along my path I had forgotten I was always playing. The fun I felt at play in the streets was a fun I had long forgotten, and thankfully, not lost. It was an opportunity to remember the deep fulfillment that comes when we are following our heart, sharing our truth, and giving our authentic gifts.

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What did I receive?

So much more than I gave, that is abundantly clear to me. At the surface, we received many positive and well intentioned words, gestures, and smiles, along with some financial flow. Most people walked by, many would stop for a few moments, and a few would share an inspiring story or poem of their own.

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And the receiving went much deeper still.

A breaking through barriers of fear, a crumbling of walls of separation, an opening into love and connection, a spoonful taste of the depth of fulfillment through creative play, a confirmation of the truth behind giving, a more integrated resonance with trust, and a glimpse through the eyes of compassion for all peoples. Another truth of the gift: it is amplified and comes full circle – leaving all that have participated feeling a part of something larger than themselves.

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At one point during the playfully creative process, a fellow traveler informed us that it was actually illegal to either sit or lay down – only on this one particular street. He suggested to us that if we found a small stool or box to sit on then we would again be “legal”. Up until this point, I was surprised by the lack of visibility of police in San Francisco (from my perspective). Most places I had been so far in the United States, police had been a regular spotting. Our new friend informed us they were definitely around, and had already busted a fellow busker down the street. The only interruption we encountered was an employee who had been ordered from her boss to ask us to leave – a request, she shared, that left her with a heavy heart to fulfill after hearing the message we were giving.

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Interestingly, immediately after the move to a new corner and our discussion about the SFPD, there were suddenly multiple police cars driving around on the street. When I saw the first one, I noticed a momentary panic arise within me – should we stop playing and pack up? Are they going to come and talk to us? I felt a fear come with what my mind thought could possibly happen. I then felt a shift take place within me, one away from the love I had been feeling toward a restricting fear. What did I really have to fear? I was following my heart, sharing my love and truth for all who would receive it – what purpose did this fear serve? Ultimately, it provided me with a path to return to projecting love and compassion with more passion. I had nothing to fear – my heart told me I was safe, told me to trust – so trust I did. Police car after police car drove down the street, many actually pulled U-turns right in front of us, and simply continued on their way. I opened myself to compassion for the people in uniforms.

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Giving my gift in this fun, playful, creative, and authentic way has given me more in return. I learned much about myself and even more about others (and there really is not much difference between the two). I am excited for the opportunity to give in this way again and have received inspiration to create new gifts to give in new ways.

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What gifts do you have that are just waiting for the space to express themselves?

What kind of art gets you excited?

How can you cultivate the gifts that exist within you already?

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Keep dreaming!
Skye

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P.S. – Breaking out of my shell has been a process that I have developed through the use of training wheels – often remixing the creations of others in order to step out of my comfort zone. {In reality, a remix is all every creation is – we are a blender filled with a unique combination of fruits and vegetables – all we have learned and experienced is combined to create our creative smoothies.} I am always inspired to share the work of those who inspire me, and in the case of the flowetry, my inspiration comes from none other than Phil Osophical. I encourage anyone who wants to laugh, be inspired, and just plain feel great, to check out his album “Paradigm Shifting Flowetry”. It has had an impact on my life in so many ways!

2 thoughts on “Gifting in the Street

  1. It is hard to put into words the depth of emotion I feel when I read your writing. I relate so heavily on almost all points that it moves me to tears. Which isn’t the best response when you are at work and taking a mental break. The points that I don’t relate on I always open myself up to them and it creates a moment of self reflection that I really value. You have the gift of verbalizing a lot of my own fears and insecurities which makes me feel connected to you. Reading about the moments when you move past your fears and insecurities inspires me. Thank you.

    1. Thank you for sharing the depth of expression that you have. I am grateful that you feel connected to the words in that way <3 Your reciprocated inspiration only furthers to amplify my own to continue giving however I can. I hold space for the potential of discussing the points we don't relate on. Yay stories! Much love Miss T! <3<3

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