Pages

Thursday, March 05, 2009

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....

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You know....I think we had that conversation once or twice. It isn't just the day that makes your area worth paying attention to. The locale itself is very worthy of note every day. I have always had a bit of a sense of wonder whenever I visit. Beauty is all around you.

AL

Patricia said...

What I am trying to relate is that when one is in the midst of beauty, sometimes one cannot see it. We see the beauty, with fresh eyes, when something draws our attention to it. Some times, people (that would be me) are distracted and may miss the beauty. Do you see the beauty around you?

Anonymous said...

*smile* I try to. It doesn't always happen, but I do try. One of the reasons I have taken to keeping my camera handy is to try to cultivate that sense of wonder and then to try to capture it on film.
AL

Anonymous said...

We have read your Blog Patricia, and we like it. Keep snapping the digi and tappin the digits.
Marcus and Katherine

Patricia said...

Thanks Marcus and Katherine...

Very lovely compliments from two people who have a wonderful way with words!