Brussels Central Station
“Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something” - Jackson Brown.
I took this picture a few months ago. As I was sitting in a quiet corner at the far end of brussels’ central station, waiting for the train, I watched this man sit down and read his paper.
He looked worried. Preoccupied. Exhausted. And I couldn’t help myself to look around at all the other people walking in the station, minding their own business. I realized I was the only one to notice this man and what he was silently going through.
I thought of taking a picture, trying to get the composition right while at the same time immortalizing what this man was going through, whatever it was. Thinking it was one of the deseases of our time : to be too busy minding our own business and failling to notice we aren’t the only ones to have problems. Because we all do.
Taking the right picture took me some time. It took me a few trials. Then I thought about going to talk to that man. Ask him about his day. To have a little chat. Like you would with a friend.
But then I guess I didn’t have much time left : maybe I had to take my train, maybe I needed to go somewhere or maybe he left before I had gathered up the nerves to go talk to him – I don’t remember. The point is, I still have this picture. And this picture reminded me of this quote by Jackson Brown : to remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something.
To remember that we are all humans living in this same beautiful and shitty world. I think if we all did, we would be kinder with each other, albeit with strangers, friends or close relatives.
Shared on instagram and facebook.