I was inspired to write this post yesterday when I came to the sudden realization that at some point I stopped paying attention to my surroundings. This is not usual for me, I’m used to being aware of my surroundings at almost any given time and I always pride myself of seeing things that others miss just by being observant of everything.
What happened? Well, I love trees. I’m what you could call a tree hugger. So imagine my surprise yesterday while looking out the window down the street and the thought hitting me.. ‘HEY!! Those are ROWAN TREES!’. It would seem silly at first but for me and my spiritual path, Rowan trees are deeply mystical and rich in symbolism and meaning. I was in shock for a while, not understanding how I could walk down the street for weeks not realizing that the trees I pass by everyday are Rowan trees.
I sat down and pondered of how I could let myself get so unaware of my surroundings. Especially since two nights before that I left the back door unlocked, unchecked and wide open. All night. I don’t believe in coincidence, I believe things happen for a reason so I started searching for that reason. The answer was easy to find, I was so caught up in a single negative situation (or rather said seeing only the negative in a situation) that I stopped paying attention. A lot of things could have happened leaving that door wide open. I could have taken advantage of those Rowan trees outside a lot earlier. But I didn’t because I was so caught up in a singular event. Not good.
It takes just a moment of drifting off for something bad to happen. Or to miss something good. I’m not trying to be negative, but it’s good food for thought. Shutting down everything else to send your thoughts in one direction is not healthy. Allow yourself to be open to everything. There are countless possibilities out there just waiting to be discovered. Take a step back, especially when you find yourself concentrating on a single issue and you can’t seem to find a way out. The more you stress about it, the more it will affect you in a negative way. There’s so many examples I could give you, but think back to your own past experiences, I’m sure you can come up with quite a few. We all do it.
Realistically speaking we can’t pay 100% attention 24 hours of every day of the year. But we can stop and live in the present surroundings for a few moments each day. Breathe in and pay attention to your environment. The wind, the light, the rain, the trees and grass, the buzzing bee, the wailing seagull or whatever is there. Even for a few seconds. Then go about your usual errands. I can guarantee you’ll have a smile on your face. There’s always something that can make us smile when we stop and pay attention!
