A Consequential Introspection

This morning, I went to the Midtown market on Lake Street and found a world I didn't know existed. I had seen the building countless times before, at night, and wondered what could be inside. When I entered the building, I was confronted by three mosaic sculptures. As I proceeded into the market itself, I was bombarded by stimulation. What I saw helped me realize what true energy is. Energy is a product of human interaction, innate human curiosity, and the whimsical exuberance of youth.

Initially I observed two men playing chess and socializing together. As I wove my way through the market, I saw food and goods from all cultures. In this one location, I found restaurants ranging from Greek and Lebanese to Mexican, Chinese, and American. Shops were equally as varied. I found a Mexican bakery in addition to a shop in which I could buy traditional Mexican piñatas.

I also discovered a shop full of Tibetan goods, as well as stores selling African masks.

This merging of so many cultures leads to infinite possibilities to create energy. Each person in the market has countless stories to tell. Shopkeepers also have in-depth knowledge of the culture they are from. This encourages discussion between shoppers and shopowners, leading to energy generation and exchange due to innate human curiosity. This energy is then exponentially multiplied as stories and cultural knowledge pass from person to person throughout the market. The energy passes from the bakery owner to the bright-eyed children, to the children's parents, to the owner of another shop, and so on. Eventually, this energy can be felt simply by entering the market.