Recently I posted a video of the Magic Fountain of Montju?c, which is found in Barcelona, Spain. A few people have asked me about the clip and there’s actually an interesting story behind it. It’s also a story that has some lessons for us all.
While visiting family in Europe, I had a chance to spend roughly three days on my own in Barcelona. I knew a little about the area and had planned some pretty packed days of tourism.
Late on the second day of my visit, I started to hear some talk about the Magic Fountain of Montju?c. I found out it’s a pretty big deal in the world of public water shows. That night was also the only opportunity I’d have to see it during my visit.
As you can see from this video, I figured out a way to make it happen and the results were very memorable.
From this experience, I realized several things that could be useful takeaways for you:
Be Open to Possibilities
I had a chance to see something memorable but it would not be on my time table. By early evening, I was a tired tourist and putting my feet up in my hotel room was an attractive option. I also knew that there was no point in asking Barcelona to reschedule a landmark.
Be willing to throw out your plans and sacrifice something, if your goal is special. To get what you want often means paying a price.
Ask for Help
I’m a city I don’t know much about and I don’t speak the local language. In order to get to the fountain, in the short amount of time I had before the show started, I was going to have to ask for my help.
Part of me hates being vulnerable like this and not being in control of a situation. But I also know that there are people out there who like to help.
Giving up some control can lead you to new possiblilities.
Improvise
As soon as the show starts, I realize that it’s worth capturing. I have a camera and an iPhone.
I quickly decided that my best course of action is to shoot video of the water show with the iPhone, in my left hand, and take pictures of it with my camera, held in my right hand.
It’s a little unconventional and I’ve never done this before but it works. I’m close to the action so I don’t have to look at monitors. This means I can also see the show with my eyes.
A creative solution can yield good results. But you have to take the risk to try something new.
Celebrate the Moment
When you do something different, that’s out of your comfort zone, then you need to celebrate your journey from a cautious past to a more adventurous present.
Very often we blame ourselves for the moments when things go wrong and replay them endlessly in our minds. Maybe we should remember the times when you stretched yourself and things went well.
