nytjump

Earlier this week I read an article in the New York Times about a photography exhibit called Jump. The exhibit showcases photographs by Philippe Halsman in which the subjects are …  you guessed it: JUMPING.

Halsman said “When you ask a person to jump, his attention is mostly directed toward the act of jumping, and the mask falls, so that the real person appears.”

I love the photographs that were shown in the article. But more so, I love that seeing them has prompted me to think a lot about the masks people wear and when we allow them to drop.

I mused on the Simply Celebrate FaceBook Page, “Maybe whenever I meet someone new, I should suggest we jump in the air before saying a word.”  I’ve been testing it out. So far, not with anyone else present; I’m working up to that. But before I make a phone call or send an email, I just jump up and down a little. Not only does it help me drop my mask, it also gets my energy going. And, well, it is fun. (Go ahead and try it. You know you want to!)

What other things help us drop those masks? Listening to music together? Dancing? Staying awake til the wee hours of the night? Experiencing something sacred/profound together?

When do you feel your own mask dropping? Any thoughts? As always, would love to hear ‘em!

Photo: copyright Philippe Halsman; New York Times, May 24, 2010