A Moment with Donna…Seeing But Not Seeing

Fall is in full swing here in the Pacific Northwest. Leaves of gold are falling, as are thousands of acorns from the white oaks in my backyard. Squirrels are happily crunching and munching, as well as burying those tasty nuts preparing for winter. Halloween is just around the corner of time. Dracula, along with his coffin, is keeping company with a couple of sparkling pumpkins, in my living room. Yes, I am prepared in advance for that whimsical holiday that, thanks to the Celts, welcomes this colorful season.

Sometimes the most practical of everyday activities that we give little attention to normally, can make us wake up to habits and processes, that may need changing. Such as observing what is happening in a given moment. Washing dishes…no big deal, we do that every day. However, as I was getting ready to fill the kitchen sink with hot sudsy water, I could not find the plug for the drain as it wasn’t in its usual spot. Within a matter of seconds, I found it just a short distance away from its normal resting place.

Now…hold on for a moment, if your mental eyes are starting to cross, frustrated with what you might think is a non-sensical way to begin an editorial…take a deep breath and hold it for a moment, release, then relax, and be patient for the completion of my self-observation.

I reflected on what had just occurred, Why couldn’t I see what was right in front of me? Upon thinking about it I realized that my brain and my eyes were not working in harmony. My eyes were scanning the area in front of me, yet my brain was going a mile a minute in all kinds of thought processes…like a runaway computer system having a PMS moment. I realized that when I specifically made myself focus on what I wanted to accomplish, to find, I found that plug and proceeded to finish my task. Seeing/Not Seeing/Focus/Seeing/Completion.

Have you ever heard the statement, If you want to hide something, put it into plain view and noone will find it? In our everchanging, chaotic sometimes neurotic environments we are exposed to, various dramas portrayed by so many different circumstances, we sigh, maybe even grieve deeply with our perceived observations. We think we are seeing facts but too often we are not seeing the whole picture. We get our mental pixels of perception all tangled up and heavy stress is the result, perhaps accompanied by feelings of frustration, and helplessness.

Focused attention and intention, is a discipline worth achieving. Multi-tasking, especially mentally, is hugely overrated. Have you ever seen the movie, Kindergarten Cop? There is a scene where Arnold Schwartzenagger, when he enters a classroom of 30 unruly little people, brings out a tool, a whistle, blows it loudly, totally gaining their attention, then giving specific instructions for them to follow.

That simple action took the chaos out of the whole situation. Our brain and mind can be like an undisciplined child. However, when we blow the whistle, say STOP! Focus and direct our attention and intention, distractions evaporate and we can find what we seek.

The American champion gymnast, Simone Biles, is an example of how, after years of competition and training, stepped away from participating in competition for 2 years. She came back, at 27 years of age, to compete in the 2024 Olympics with a whole new level of focus, refinement of skills, doing what was seemingly impossible. Her wisdom about herself, doing what she knew she needed to do for her well- being, enabled her to make the impossible possible. She is a great example of what we can accomplish when we put our mind, emotions, attention, and intention, into a priority position we choose to commit to.

Fall is Mother Nature’s way of letting us know that just like the changing seasons, we can take the time to slow down, look at the changes that we may need to face in our personal and professional spaces, and be willing to see what priorities we choose to have in our lives. Frequently, those perceptions and observations are right in front of us.

Have a fabulous fall!

Love, Donna