Do you just look or do you really see?

“Observe always that everything is the result of a change, and get used to thinking that there is nothing Nature loves so well as to change existing forms and to make new ones like them.”

— Meditations. iv. 36. – Marcus Aurelius

 

Observe how two different people board the bus in two different ways.

Observe how two different people have two different ways to fill the water bottle from a public water cooler.

Observe how one biker stops in the traffic but one tries to go through the cracks and loops. Observe how a girlfriend creates a scene over the low cost of a gift from a boyfriend while the girl behind the counter keeps reading her textbook while they get it sorted.

Observe how each and every one of your colleagues have arranged their respective workspaces differently.

Observe how one person keeps his glasses right up the nose and one at the tip of his nose.

Interesting?

Fun?

So don’t just serve, observe.

When you wander about your lifeless routine, try adding life to it by such small things. You would definitely see a positive change in your mind and surrounding. Recall your own self all the time while you were in some elevator. Did you smile at anyone? If there was a child did you notice its innocent eyes? If it was an elderly person, did you help them with the controls? Did you hold the door for someone running from a distance to not miss the elevator?

Have you ever noticed the tea boy in your office? Do you know his name? Have you ever talked to him more than just “chotu chaai”? Yes? That’s good. No? You aren’t living, you just exist.

One of the fears of having too much work is not having time to observe. And once you get recognized, there is nowhere for you to look any more. You can’t sit on a night bus and watch it all happen.-Benedict Cumberbatch

Why? For that little cruel piece of paper that they call currency? Then just quit. No, not living, but existing. Start living.

When you’re at home, do you notice the things misplaced? Do you feel it when someone changes something? Did you notice the wrinkles your parents developed over the years? Did you notice the walls shedding colors?

How much have you noticed yourself?

The changes that you underwent since adolescence; the changes in your features;the changes in your behavior. Aren’t they noticeable? Or you chose not to notice them? Did you observe how you grew out of your clothes? Do you ever observe the change in your feet when you’ve worn shoes all day? Since when did you, a human who has the most developed mind start living like an animal? With the monotonous routine? Oh no. Even the animals notice little changes.

They sense it when the climate is going to change and they notice every little change in nature. Your pet notices your changed behavior. It does things to let you know it has noticed your change. But have you ever noticed a change in your pet until it became an extreme level issue? Since when did us humans become so shallow? Why do we take things for granted? Is it because we’ve always had options or is it because we’ve learned to always find an option?

With time, we are changing. Of course, change is necessary but, not up to the extent that no one even notices the changes. Yes, we need to update ourselves with time and update doesn’t always mean being thorough with the latest gadgets nor does it mean adapting to the latest fashion. Adapting to the changes within you, adapting to the changes in nature, that is real update.

Changes are inevitable but you need to identify them. Notice them. Act accordingly. And with all the changes we also change our minds towards people. We treat people like they are things. We’ve become materialistic. I am not pointing out any specific group of people. I am taking into consideration the whole human population.

Let’s not deviate from the subject.

Learn to observe.

Observe, communicate, record. Learn to use your five senses. Look out at the universe and contemplate the glory of God.

Learn to see, listen, taste, smell and feel.

Have you noticed how nobody ever looks up? Nobody looks at chimneys, or trees against the sky, or the tops of buildings. Everybody just looks down at the pavement or their shoes. The whole world could pass them by and most people wouldn’t notice. Don’t be that person. Don’t just do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.

Try and be among those who can separate their observation and perception. Try to see what is and not what you expect to. Remember yourself. Deep inside, you have an observer, a constant neutral witness to your posture, gesture, facial expression, breathing, taste, impressions of light and sound. Don’t leap to interpret. Just be there and observe.

The club is too loud to talk, so after a couple of drinks, everyone feels like the centre of attention but completely cut off from participating with anyone else.

You’re the corpse in an English murder mystery.-The fight club.

I believe that in these days we have too many occupations, too many interests; we know too many things, and, if you will, have too many advantages and facilities. Our faculty of taking an interest is dissipated and frittered away.

Let’s stop being self-centered. Let’s go back to the times when the hearts were still connected without the gadgets. Let’s go back to the times when everyone was beautiful without the need of newest clothes. Let’s observe, let’s acknowledge,and let’s spread positivity.

Let’s stop serving. Start Observing.