Cinematic Sanctuary: Unveiling Movie Theaters as Your Escape
Movie theaters provide me with a cinematic sanctuary. A place I can go, sit, and breathe. There was a stressful time when I was in a theater at least three times a week; I even bought into the Regal Cinema subscription. Movies are therapeutic; they let me forget about my life and live through another lens.
Here is how it can be therapeutic to you too:
If theater etiquette is followed, then there is no distraction
Proper but simple etiquette is turning your phone off, not talking, and letting yourself get lost in the story.
Allowing yourself to immerse in the experience
With no distractions, you can sit back in your chair, snack on your popcorn and drinks, and fully immerse yourself in the experience. Feel the audio beat in your chest, conceal your eye strictly to the screen, and make yourself part of the story.
Enjoying extension, not self
As you immerse yourself in the experience, you enjoy yourself. You’re an extension of yourself by bringing your experiences to the movie. You’re not focused on your troubles at home or work stress. You’re focused solely on a pre-written story that isn’t your own. You get to escape.
When these etiquettes are upheld, your distractions dissolve, allowing for complete immersion (which is the goal).
You recline in your seat, savoring each crunch of popcorn, the sips of fizzy drinks, and the interactive feel of the audio encompasses your senses. It’s an embrace of the story, where you become integral, relinquishing the outside world for those moments.
Taking a break or having an escape is necessary for everyone. We work hard every day and deserve some independent downtime. Treating going to a theater as a reward and allowing myself to be fully immersed makes the experience even better. I know I have earned this time, and it feels great to walk into a theater.
