Pausing to Notice

The holidays are such an interesting time. Many of us have memories both good and not so great that center on this time of year.

I can remember being a kid, and it felt like the distance between Halloween and Christmas was soooooo long. Time seemed to move slower those days, but when I look back, it’s because much of my life was spent without technology. This isn’t an anti-technology post. I mean, after all, I’m sitting here writing this blog post on my phone with a cat in my lap, and if I’m lucky enough for you to read it, it’s thanks to advancements in technology. But all of that to say, time seems to move more slowly when our attention isn’t divided. The beauty of childhood is that there are so many firsts which is really exciting for the brain, and it seems to make us more alive and awake for it all.

Lately, I try to pay attention when I’m outside. My phone is usually in my bag during these times, but my brain is often focused on what I need to do next or it’s replaying moments from my day. And yet, there is so much worth being alive and awake for when we are outside. Lately, I’ve taken great pleasure in noticing all of the different color leaves on the trees and now that they are falling, I’ve come to appreciate windy days when it seems to be raining leaves from the sky and even the moments when the leaves are twirling and dancing around parked cars. There have been so many “movie worthy” shots. You know, those perfectly fall scenes that you see on shows and that get you excited for sweater weather.

I’ve come to realize that many of us are desperately wanting to capture moments. With our phones in our pockets, we hurry to grab our phone, so we can remember. But in the hurry to take that perfect photo, the memory is sometimes lost. This isn’t an anti-photo posts. But I’m writing this to say that there are times when I think to myself, I should take a picture and instead decide to simply pay attention, so I can remember. I try to notice the breeze, the smell in the air, and to simply look at what’s happening in front of me…especially when it’s an opportunity to marvel at the way nature seems to make art.

If you are fortunate enough to have a little time away from work this weekend, the next time you find yourself grabbing your phone or hurrying to get a photo, ask yourself if this would be an opportunity to create a mental picture a moment instead.

Life seems to go by so fast. If we don’t pause to notice, we might miss the magic.