All the parts touch – by Paul Smetana
“All the Parts Touch!”
The Little Engine that Could. It’s that fairy story we give to kids to tell them about the work ethic. So that’s good, although I’d like one that tells about lazing around, goofing off and generally having a good time, like Siesta’s all over the world.
But I wanted to talk about engines in a different way. I’ve been reading Alan Arkin’s autobiography, and he spends all the time writing about acting, and in particular, Improv.
In his book, he speaks of Improv being a master key for truth and reality. And no, he doesn’t stop with the Theatre, he means the Truth and reality of our life.
On stage, everything is make believe. You are aware that nothing is actually there, and that the people you are working with are also like you, pretending. And yet in this version of fantasy island, truth and a great visceral realness can and must occur.
Alan Arkin tells that once you are connected to one of these moments, your life is never the same again. Not only do you realise that this is what acting is all about, you realise that you want this truth in your day to day life too.
And so the quest is set. The holy grail discovered. “I want to live a true real life. And further, “I want my relationships to be as true and real. Good ambitions. And this is where, in one sentence in his book, one single idea, caught me by surprise.
Machines. There is an Improv game, that he gives to new groups. He gets them to be a machine, like a conveyer belt in a bottling plant. At first the actors do a reasonable job of it, but they don’t touch each other, usually it’s to early to be that familiar.
Then Alan will tell them that there must be a physical contact. And they do it again, and it works like magic. They are working organically as a machine. They all feel it, are lost in it, and the spontaneity of it, is apparent.
After the scene has finished, someone will ask, “why was it so different when we touched?”. Alan said that it took him a long time to see why. “ All of the parts of a machine, touch.”
This is the kicker for me. All the parts touch.
Because at a very intrinsic level, life is a machine with all parts touching. Touch any part, and the connection, spontaneity, verve, wonder, awe, truth and fulfilment is immediate and complete.
A moment of this sharedness can come about in a crowd at the football, opera, concert, ballet, theatre, movie. It can happen during high romantic moments. During the birth of your child. When you experience your health returning. Being there while children are playing. The moments of :When the Parts Touch: are endless and often fleeting, and wholly wonderful.
The parts touch, because there is no other way for what is real and true, to be. It’s the secret of the Universe. All the Parts Touch. So now you might be thinking, “So how come I don’t feel that?”. And that’s a good question. I’m glad you asked. It’s not that you aren’t touching anything, but that you fail to notice it.
Living our individual life, is what identifies us as part of Western Civilisation, and has lead us to pick up on cues and clues that consist of the make believe characters we call, “ME/ YOU/THEM”.
We completely tune out that the “Parts Touch”. It’s what causes us despair and loneliness, not to say boredom. I’ve come, I think, to the end. Like Alan Arken’s students, my discovery and subsequent desire for a life fully real and true is my goal, my one true love. My obsession.
All the Parts Touch. Who Knew?
Paul
About the Author: Paul Smetana writes about the Simple Secrets of Being Touched by Life, How you can finally take control of your destiny, and the simple reason most people fail. In Aged Care for 30 years, he has discovered How our most successful Elders Attained “A Life worth Living”. One Brimming with vitality and Joy. And how easily you can too, without waiting any longer. For Instant Access to more Articles, e-books, and Resources on Living your best Life, Visit www.betouchedbylife.com
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Hey Paul,
I like your words on All the Parts touch. My body got tingles when I read it. I guess I’m not one of those ones who needs to ask, why don’t I feel it? I do.
Hey inregards to your comment about a kids book about chilling out and being relaxed and at peace with themselves.
Have you heard of ‘Slowly Slowly Slowly said the Sloth? by Eric Carle” Its a good one for kids, and expresses his need not to be in a nurry.
Thanks for read =)
Love and light
Joni
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