Janaki Sabesh Instagram – What can bring 6 strangers together in 90 minutes? A magic unfolded around this at the ‘Flashback’ event I facilitated at @idam_thespace Kodambakkam on Saturday.
It was a ride into our past with photographs, objects and special memories from our lives. We sat in a circle, slowly warming up to introductions about ourselves. Then each of us went back in our own time machines to fetch back memories that evoked beautiful emotions in us.
Nithya, started off with an exploration of ‘Can a metro train journey be viewed from the lens of a life presented with new opportunities?’. All of us had a train story for sure. So we shared stories of fears, broken hearts, food memories and inspirations connected to train journeys.
It was such a heartwarming moment when Nithya shared a newspaper report on a similar session that I had facilitated 5 years back!
Selvi, took us to her days in the 1960s when commute to school was in horse carts through dark and dense hilly routes. She also recalled a heartwarming story of her reunion with her school best friend after many years, something that we think would happen only in movies.
As everyone listened in awe, the conversations seamlessly moved to objects that we held dear. From a miniature typewriter, to books and watches passed on through generations, to cherished gifts from an ex-girlfriend, each of us were now talking about our most personal stories without the fear of being judged. And that’s what an intimate group session like this can do.
It was turning into a deep and intense, yet safe space for sharing, as each participant took cue from the previous story and expressed theirs. A warm connect blossomed through the flashback ride we took together.
I find it apt to say that every kind of story had its ‘idam’ (place) there!
As we ended with some soothing lemon tea and butter biscuits, my heart was full and thankful for yet another evening where stories brought a group of strangers together♥️
#flashback #storytelling #magic #momentswithmaajanaki | Posted on 21/Nov/2023 19:08:23
