Paying Attention

How can we create a sense of holiday in the middle of winter, a routine that has gotten old, and circumstances that keep us at home? Today my idea to have a fresh experience of my day to day life was not to pack a lunch. I land in Jogannatha Express, and choose the green lentils and swiss chard. The man by the window is hunched over a book when I arrive. After a few minutes, I hear the theme from the movie, The Sting and figure it must be a cell phone because the restaurant music is more likely to be Deva Premal. ( I just had a look at this website and looks like she has been hanging around with another interesting fellow.)

My restaurant neighbour roots for his cell and says two sentences, then returns to his book. A woman arrives and sweeps him away to the good bar. From my table, I can see the street and Nelsonites passing by. Across the street is the drycleaners. I notice for the first time the light green colour of the storefront, and that the building has a second floor. Above the top of the building, I can see Elephant Mountain. Here's an interesting view of the trailhead of Pulpit Road on the side of Elephant Mountain.

As I sit digesting lentils, I remember my morning walk to work. I was absorbed in the calls I had to make, the files I had to put on the computer, and finding a work placement for my morning client, when a woman passed me on the sidewalk. "What an incredible day," she said.

With that prompt, I looked upward and saw the blue sky peeking through clouds, and mountains with pockets of bright shiny snow. And I was reminded about the beauty that is around me. I paid full attention.

And now I think about where I live - a place where people holiday....