October
21
Justin is a Starbucks addict. He goes at least 3 to 4 times a week to the exact same location. He uses the drive through but is known simply by his voice and is always greeted with by name because of his frequent visits to this one location.
Justin was in class last night when he noticed a girl who looked very familiar to him. He spent most of the class wondering how he knew this girl. He has been in the same class for weeks now but never noticed her even though she sits seats away from him.
He realized as the class was ending that she works at the local Starbucks he visits so often. She happens to take his order on a regular basis and remembers his name but he didn’t even notice her in his class sitting a few feet away.
I know I spend a lot of my life in my head. What I mean is that I am spending a lot of time thinking about myself, where I am going, what I am going to do next, what is my next goal… My mom says you can almost see the wheels turning in my head. I can find myself stuck inside my own little world at times. I can park my car at a destination and realize I do not even know how I drove there because I was so consumed with my thoughts.
Think about all the people and opportunities I miss out on because I am not taking the time to look around. What would happen if I just took an hour of my day to leave my world and just be in the present? Would I make a new friend? Would I learn something new? Would I be thankful for the wonderful rainbow I happen to get a chance to see?
Life keeps us so busy we miss out on what is going on right in front of us. Those are moments we can not get back. So what can we do to help change this habit so we do not miss out on what life has offer?
We can open our eyes.
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Travis
on 21 Oct 2008 at 7:17 am #
This is so TRUE! Being present is something we all need practice on. In our day and age – we are easily distracted by the life’s highway of commotion. Cherish the time you spend with friends and BE PRESENT!
Big Bro
on 21 Oct 2008 at 8:25 am #
Great Post! I call my internal distraction “White Noise”. Sometimes you just have to turn it down to appreciate what is around you. I am going to pay much more attention to it.
So…Does Justin now know her name?
E.
Michael
on 21 Oct 2008 at 8:39 am #
Eric,
Yes Justin now knows her name.
Brad
on 21 Oct 2008 at 3:34 pm #
It is amazing when we take time to notice people around us, it is a great experience. I know because of my physical condition. (right sided paralysis, from an accident back in 1997) I now have to be more aware of my surroundings. I seem to have an eye for detail. My friends comment on how aware I am of things around me. However, I seem to be bad with names. (I realize by stating that as fact, it becomes my reality) I work very hard to make sure I work at making a point of remembering people’s name. I do much better when I have a first and last name.:-)
I notice a lot of people with their IPods living in there own little world, completely cutting themselves off from any human interaction. I mean I enjoy music as well, but I don’t walk around with ear buds and my music playing. I have music in my head- if I stop to listen.
It just makes me that much more unapproachable.
Be well-
Brad