Walking is my main form of exercise and living by the ocean, it should be pretty easy to do. I’m basically lazy though, so I always put on my headphones, crank up some blues and although I look like I am walking, I’m dancing in my head. I love the blues and they help to get me moving but I realized that besides hearing, my other senses are barely engaged. There I am, surrounded by such beauty and I’m barely acknowledging it. Exercise had dulled my perception of nature’s magnificence and I was missing out on it.
So today, I left the headphones home, grabbed my camera and headed out the door. I followed the same route as always and thought that I’d probably not find anything out of the ordinary worth capturing. To my surprise, with my eyes now wide open, I saw the extraordinary. The colors, shapes, textures, and movement before me were breathtaking. With the abundance of new visions on my old route, I took more pictures than I ever thought I would.
The tide was low and I was high- on nature. I became fascinated by the tide pools with the shapes and striations in the sand. Underwater rocks were artfully arranged by the water’s design and I captured it all from the bridge above. Across the bay, I zoomed my lens on four men unaware of anything but finding Quahogs in the sand. Backs bent and oblivious to me, they were quite entertaining as I watched them fish with their hands. Those Quahogs must be pretty sumptuous to risk a very sore back.
As I neared the bend in the cove, I spotted a lone gull perched on his own mini island as he quietly surveyed the cove. His reflection in the water, along with those of the houses and trees on the other shore, doubled my viewing pleasure and I marveled at the intricacy of this simple scene.
Who knew that I’d find such treasures on my short lunchtime walk? So magnificent, they were right in front of me. Of course they always were, although I had barely noticed. But it was so plain and simple to see that all I had to do was just open my eyes and take notice
How do you get to really notice what’s around you?
I have been walking a lot while on this Cambridge sit. Miles and miles a day, and it feels GOOD. Because I am in a new place, I am not tempted to put the headphones on. When I am excercising at home I HAVE to have music…but I find that when I am out walking with headphones, I miss a lot of what goes on around me as well.
A couple of days ago, the electricity went out. I walked to a diner and sat by myself, which I rarely do anymore. It was fun, eavesdropping on other conversations and really taking in the atmosphere. I often have to make a conscious effort to really notice what’s around me. We have become a society distracted…when/how did our surroundings take a backseat to technology?
Thanks for taking the time to comment Valynne. I know, it probably takes practice to starting using our senses with awareness. I’m trying to learn how to see and hear beauty, the unusual, the good and the funny.
Happy that you’re getting to experience so much and focus on you.