HARVEST
Fields of Sight, 2019, Gauri Gill and Rajesh Vangad.I didn’t grow up on a farm, but the idea of a harvest has always had a romantic pull for me. One season follows another, the leaves change, my dusty winter coat comes down from the attic. Imagine in the midst of all that, seeds you planted many months ago reappear as a bountiful harvest.
In a broader sense, the harvest is ultimately about what we put our time and energy into, what we nurture and hope to get back in return. This idea kept me steady during a recent project. I was working on a short film, and let me tell you, there’s nothing short about the process of making one.
The start was exciting. Every new idea was a seed full of possibility. But then came the long, quiet wait where it felt as if nothing was happening. Like staring at a plot of soil. Did that worm just wiggle? Exciting stuff!
Eventually, we had a draft and then a final cut. All our work became tangible. It felt amazing. But life doesn’t stop after the harvest. A short film has to find its way into the world, and that’s a tricky process to navigate. I also couldn’t rest on my laurels, despite how tempting it would have been.
The ego can drive us forward, but it also gets in our way. Like a weed, it can pop up unexpectedly and stops any new growth.
Whether it’s doubts, fears, or old habits that no longer serve me, those weeds need pulling. And it was not a one-time job, either. Taking care of our minds is a continual process.
So, for me, harvest isn’t just about the big moments of achievement. It’s working hard, knowing there’s a long wait ahead. It’s planting new seeds for tomorrow, despite enjoying the current moment.
And if I’ve learned anything from making this film, it’s that no matter how great the harvest might look, there’s always more to do, more to learn, more ways to grow. So, I guess I’d better get back to planting seeds – metaphorically, of course.
Other Pause for Thought
