Your post not only calls me back to an awareness of where I place my attention today, but also reminds me of a story about my eldest child. In 5th grade we were having him go through a series of assessments to see if we could understand more about his unique challenges with learning and with social interactions. In one session, one of the psychologists asked him if he saw things that other people don't see. He replied, "Oh yes, all the time." She encouraged him to tell her more. "Out your window there," he said, "there are small drops of water sparkling in the sunlight. Most people wouldn't notice that, but I do." ***We also gift the world with our exquisite attunement***
I remember climbing to the top of Mt. Tam with a visual artist friend of mine and something similar happened. She asked: what is the brightest thing you see on the landscape. I eagerly engaged in her inquiry and found something white (maybe a cloud, I don’t remember). “Ah, yes that’s pretty bright,” said. And then, I asked her the sane question. She quickly spotted the sun glinting off something in the foreground. It was so bright we could hardly look at it. My eyes had danced right over it looking for a concept of “bright” rather than what was actually there. I’ll always remember and appreciate the glimmer she offered into the mind and eyes of a visual artist.
I love this inquiry: “The balance of attention must go more to beauty and ease to overcome one’s negativity bias. How much attention to beauty and ease do you need?”
My short answer: More
My longer answer: In recent discussion with an African medicine woman she suggested I cultivate a “sit spot” a place in nature I go to every day for five minutes and simply observe with all my senses. What a simple and radical idea I thought. I’ve been doing my best to follow this instruction and amazed at how much beauty exists in the corner of my backyard: hummingbirds, birds I don’t know the names of, bees, frogs, gentle breezes that make leaves quiver and the dahlias dance -- it all feels overwhelmingly beautiful, like a gift I barely deserve. What luck, I often think, to exist in such a place. And then amazingly the old adage holds true, what I place my attention on grows. I’m finding beauty in the most unexpected places: walking a crowded beach watching families interact, sweeping collected dust from the crevice in front of the bathroom door, calming my protective dog as she barks at the daily mailman intruder-- so much life, so much beauty. Thank you for lifting attention toward beauty as an important and necessary practice. Our world is rich with it when we make it a priority to see it.
Thank you, Cynthia, for your shout out.
Your post not only calls me back to an awareness of where I place my attention today, but also reminds me of a story about my eldest child. In 5th grade we were having him go through a series of assessments to see if we could understand more about his unique challenges with learning and with social interactions. In one session, one of the psychologists asked him if he saw things that other people don't see. He replied, "Oh yes, all the time." She encouraged him to tell her more. "Out your window there," he said, "there are small drops of water sparkling in the sunlight. Most people wouldn't notice that, but I do." ***We also gift the world with our exquisite attunement***
What a beautiful story. Sounds like an artist!
I remember climbing to the top of Mt. Tam with a visual artist friend of mine and something similar happened. She asked: what is the brightest thing you see on the landscape. I eagerly engaged in her inquiry and found something white (maybe a cloud, I don’t remember). “Ah, yes that’s pretty bright,” said. And then, I asked her the sane question. She quickly spotted the sun glinting off something in the foreground. It was so bright we could hardly look at it. My eyes had danced right over it looking for a concept of “bright” rather than what was actually there. I’ll always remember and appreciate the glimmer she offered into the mind and eyes of a visual artist.
I love this inquiry: “The balance of attention must go more to beauty and ease to overcome one’s negativity bias. How much attention to beauty and ease do you need?”
My short answer: More
My longer answer: In recent discussion with an African medicine woman she suggested I cultivate a “sit spot” a place in nature I go to every day for five minutes and simply observe with all my senses. What a simple and radical idea I thought. I’ve been doing my best to follow this instruction and amazed at how much beauty exists in the corner of my backyard: hummingbirds, birds I don’t know the names of, bees, frogs, gentle breezes that make leaves quiver and the dahlias dance -- it all feels overwhelmingly beautiful, like a gift I barely deserve. What luck, I often think, to exist in such a place. And then amazingly the old adage holds true, what I place my attention on grows. I’m finding beauty in the most unexpected places: walking a crowded beach watching families interact, sweeping collected dust from the crevice in front of the bathroom door, calming my protective dog as she barks at the daily mailman intruder-- so much life, so much beauty. Thank you for lifting attention toward beauty as an important and necessary practice. Our world is rich with it when we make it a priority to see it.
Thank you so much Kelsey--so much here--The Art of receiving. Eyes and Heart as Trustworthy Vessels. The Art of Staying Simple. The Art of Re-maining.
yes! and such a journey to lean into the beauty!