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What is outside your window?
I’ve lived in the same apartment for three years. For the first two years, my desk faced the window overlooking the cityscape and a beautiful park. I spent days and nights at that desk writing my book, yet it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I actually looked out the window with both eyes and gained a full awareness of what I saw. Two huge paths come together right below my window. How have I possibly missed this seemingly obvious feature for three full years? I have glanced and gazed out the window hundreds of times, but I was never really looking out the window. Whenever I have turned my attention out to the scenes below, my thoughts have been far away. Those converging paths could have been lit up with neon lights and I wouldn’t have noticed them directly below me.
I consider life often in terms of two paths presented to me, beckoning me to choose which path I shall take. But what if those paths came together to offer the best of both worlds? This scenario happens on occasion; at least it does right outside my window — why can’t it happen in life as well? Well, perhaps it can and does, but we will only see it we’re looking with both eyes.
I can’t imagine how much of life we lose because we aren’t fully present. So many opportunities fly right past us without our awareness. Rather than look for a place where two paths must diverge, why don’t we start looking for the place where they converge?
With your eyes wide open, pause at your window. What do you notice when you look outside? Try this activity multiple times, if your eyes are wide open with awareness, you will notice something different each and every time. It is quite magical!
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- A Letter For You and Me
- Between the Mind and the Pen
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 at 12:02 pm and is filed under Balance & Simplicity, Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
4 Responses to “What is outside your window?”
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Great post Carolyn, I actually did this the other day! I noticed the trees blooming and it’s so beautiful how good life is :) Makes you appreciate the little things that we take for granted.
Twitter: benspoont
says:
The ocean!
Twitter: run4kelly
says:
Carloyln,
I have many running routes that I have run for years and I am always amazed that I continue to find new things to discover. It is almost as if I have been running with my eyes closed.
Lately I have been running with a camera and stopping to take pictures of many things I have missed when I hurry to get to the “finish line”.
Running with my eyes and heart wide open offers such a different perspective :)
Twitter: lynxofsilver
says:
Carolyn, this is a great reminder on being present. And on seeing with eyes wide open. You are so right, we miss so much with a narrow focus, head down, rushing lifestyle. Thanks!