We each see about 3 million different faces in our lifetime. Every day, while rushing on the streets, we pass strangers we have never seen or seen many times before. Have you ever wondered what they are dreaming about at that moment; what is eating them? Perhaps the person waiting for the trolleybus at a stop you have long been bored with is an undiscovered philosopher, whom you could talk to and find an answer right there and then to the tormenting questions about both the bus schedule and life directions. We came closer to the people of Kaunas and tried to get to know them not through facts, but through the directions they pursue in life and their daily reflections. We have put a part of the warmth felt during the conversations here so that they would not remain just a statistic but would come closer to you disguised as the most beloved places of Kaunas.
Vaižganto Street
Do you like this day?
I don’t really like it because I was very sleepy, I couldn’t think straight. A colleague read on the Internet that there was some kind of magnetic storm happening just today. It was a really… strange day.
What brings you joy in life?
Communicating with people. Or just seeing my husband. When I do, everything becomes better immediately, all difficulties are relieved at once, and if he smiles… You know, I call it love. For many years I thought about what love is, but such a small thing… is also an expression of love.
When was the last time you cried?
The week before last because my employer annoyed me. Emotions accumulated, so I thought I needed to cry. It helped. But I did not bawl my eyes out, I just squeezed out some tears.
What do you regret not doing?
I regret a lot, but why should I? Maybe the right decisions wouldn’t come from the things I didn’t do. Frankly, what’s the point of regret? It won’t happen… You won’t really change anything; it is what it is. You can change the future, not the past.
–
Yard Gallery
Do you like this day?
Not really, many stupid things happened, but let’s move on, chantarelles!
What was your first thought when you woke up today?
Wow, so much sun!
What brings you joy in life?
My kitten, we are together for life.
When was the last time you cried?
Today, because I received a fine.
What are you most proud of in life?
My mother. She is an icon and someone I aspire to be.
What do you want to do before you die?
Absolutely everything I want without ever feeling old.
–
Kavalierius
Do you like this day?
I do! Today I got up before the alarm went off and wrote letters to people because I had been planning that for a long time, so I finally got to it. I had black coffee in the morning, so the driving went well, and now I can drink coffee again.
What brings you joy in life?
Small things that I can spend time on. For example, I really like it when I meet new people unexpectedly and have conversations; also, when I write a text or a poem that comes together by surprise. Also, for example, good weather, like today. It’s the little things that mean a lot to me.
When was the last time you cried?
The day before yesterday. I had a lot of stuff accumulated but the breaking point was when I did not make it to register for Regitra exam. Most of the time I cry over little things, it’s not that hard.
–
Owl Hill
What was your first thought after waking up today?
Open Facebook and see which universities my classmates got into.
What brings you joy in life?
People I love, who are close to me. When I meet them, I have a hell of a time. Or those people whom you meet, and they make you feel like you disappear from the world, the universe, and live here and now.
–
Garages on Studentų St.
What was your first thought after waking up today?
It was tssssss… ahhh tsssss… ahh, then I lay down again and then again, tsssss…ahhh UGH. I got up and thought to myself: just do it. Just do it. I felt agony and pain; just do it, do it for the money. I don’t know, well, “just do it” best describes it, don’t be a pussy, just do it.
When was the last time you cried?
[Deep breath] When I sneezed. But on a more serious note, it actually was six years ago because my wife said she would leave (as a joke). We were looking after my niece and she got mad about some shit, she left me with the small child.
I don’t even remember why, but it was so absurd, I can’t even…
What do you want to do before you die?
Either take the company I work for to a certain level or start my own. Um, I want to have three or four kids, I want to have a house and I want to be cool. Oh! And also, I want a Porsche.
What gives your life the most direction?
Ambition. For me, this means people’s recognition and saying, damn, you have a good life, you are a good specialist and a good father, husband, and so on. Just lust for ambition. The desire for it motivates me, I need money so that I can show off more and hear others say: damn, he’s rich, or he’s cool. I’m just greedy for fame.
–
Formerly Knygų ministerija (Caffeine)
What was your first thought after waking up today?
Oh wow, I really want some pancakes.
What do you lack the most right now?
Probably the type of peace and quiet that would allow me to sit back and not worry about anything.
What do you regret not doing?
Not asking this very beautiful girl I saw in a concert for her Instagram handle.
What are you most proud of in life?
Myself, I’m cool.
The courtyard of the Devil’s Museum
What brings you joy in life?
Poetry, verses. These are the best things in the world.
When was the last time you cried?
Last night. I hate summer.
What do you lack the most right now?
The smell of autumn. Brown leaves.
What are you most proud of in life?
I am proud of everyone. People around me get up every morning and manage to exist, it’s commendable.
–
Tomas’s staircase
What brings you joy in life?
Small things make me happy. I have narrowed it down to three things I like doing now. I really like to read. I’ve enjoyed it all my life, but I have neglected it. It also gives me a lot of understanding. I really like playing chess, I started playing it again and it’s like meditation for me. And I really like to dance. That’s it.
What do you lack the most right now?
Right now – money. I quit my job, so, in a word, I lack money the most but also maybe not so much. Well, you caught me in this period in which I am feeling very calm about everything I do, I feel inner peace and I enjoy it a lot and I allow myself to just be because it won’t last forever, the existential questions will come.
What gives your life the most direction?
Maybe I have this philosophy and attitude toward life that I just somehow trust life and the world. I try, as I like to say, to live intuitively. So maybe that direction somehow follows me; perhaps I am not a very purposeful person, or I don’t set any goals. I rather follow my gut, listen to my feelings, and what they tell me to do at a certain moment, and I allow myself to move in that direction. And maybe… Well, I will list all the sayings of my life here, but… a few years ago, when it was time to make a decision whether to continue studying or not, I refined this idea that I am trying to follow. I try not to do things out of fear, and I don’t let fear hold me back from doing things. So, I ask myself if I want to do something because I am scared and if the answer is yes then I don’t do it. Or maybe I don’t want to do something because I am scared. If the answer is yes, then I do it.
–
Confluence
What do you regret not doing?
Actually, many things. You know, days are too short for me, I don’t manage to do many things I plan to each day. I can’t manage to do everything and that is the biggest disadvantage. There are so many things to do, a person is being pulled in all directions, and you can’t complete anything.
What are you most proud of in life?
Well, I’m not really proud of anything.
What gives your life the most direction?
Well, you know, some kind of inquisitiveness. When everything changes and every day is somehow different, those events and everything… you get some kind of life experience. That probably provides one with direction.
Santaka valley
What do you lack the most right now?
Love, man.
What are you most proud of in life?
My brother because he always does as he pleases and does not listen to others’ opinions.
What gives your life the most direction?
I do, because it is my life.
