The Art of Noticing
Back in the winter, one of my readers asked me how I come up with things to write about. It doesn’t come naturally to me, but writing in this blog is helping me learn the art of noticing. I have always been a visual person, but noticing is more than simply observing. The art of noticing starts with becoming more aware and conscious of what we see, and then pausing to reflect on the meaning of what we see. And just like any art, the art of noticing takes practice. It’s challenging because it demands a slower pace. When I’m too busy, rushing through my day, I don’t have time to pause and reflect on what I observe. It’s like looking out the window of a car speeding down the highway – the scenery is blurry as it flashes by. The art of noticing requires us to slow down and zoom in. With all the anxiety and stress that busyness and hurrying causes us, why is slowing down so hard?!
Slow Down
The world we live in makes it hard to practice the art of noticing. We take on so many tasks and activities, and the pace of life only seems to be getting faster. No judgement here – I’m in the same boat. I’m far from consistent – my pace ebbs and flows with the seasons. From September to June, my schedule is full and the pace is fast, driven by deadlines and schedule commitments. I skim over the surface of life, taking it in by weeks and months instead of days and moments. Summer is when I come up for air, slow down and fill up before the deep plunge back into fall and winter. I love to go for bike rides and walks down my back country roads, stopping frequently to capture nature’s beauty with my camera.
Zoom In
Earlier in June, I got a new phone with a pretty impressive zoom lens, and I have been having a lot of fun playing with it. Normally I like to photograph “big” things, like storm clouds, moose, or bears. But this summer I find myself stopping frequently on my walks and bike rides to take close ups of the little things. The zoom on the camera allows me to see more than my eyes can see on their own, revealing such intricate, and complex beauty. It makes me realize that ‘little’ things, whether in nature or in life, are no less significant. Though tiny, they contain a universe full of wonder. The art of noticing involves being present – but when my mind is full of worries and to-do lists, I’m like a camera whose lens is out of focus. I’m looking, but I can’t see. So as I grow older, I’m trying to stay fully present rather than trying to stay busy. I don’t want to miss the gifts each day holds.
Details Take me Deeper
When I do slow down and zoom in, the details always takes me deeper – from observing to noticing. Just like the zoom lens on my camera, I can see more than I’m normally able to. Like earlier this spring when I stopped to take a picture of a wild rose only to discover a teeny tiny grasshopper. Or when I zoomed in on a plain dark brown moth, and was amazed to see its ‘welding goggles’ and long ‘tongue’. When we slow down and zoom in, we have time to see past the surface of people too. Like sensing how someone is feeling underneath their words, and being present enough to meet them there. We discover new things in ourselves and in other people. We create space and opportunity to go deeper in conversations and connect at a heart level. There is so much beauty to discover in the details.
The Art of Noticing
The art of noticing is about learning to see. It’s more than just seeing with our eyes, it’s about seeing with the heart. It requires slowing down enough to listen and allow things to speak to us. Not only to observe, but take time to reflect on the meaning of what we see. In today’s world, our human systems don’t operate this way. We are scrolling instead of seeing. Skimming instead of diving deep. Distracted instead of present in the moment. If we can let go of our addiction to accomplishments and busyness, slow down and zoom in, we will find the deeper meaning and connection we are longing for. So slow down. Zoom in. Learn the art of noticing.