Pay Attention

“For anyone trying to discern what to do with their life: Pay attention to what you pay attention to. That's pretty much all the info you need.”  Amy Krouse Rosenthal

I have a friend who has decided to embrace turning seventy this year. She has created a new Facebook page dedicated to her love of fashion and thrifting. She has lost quite a bit of weight over the last year and, by necessity, needed to invest in a new wardrobe. Being a retired teacher, she knew she had to consider the cost of such an endeavor. 

Rather than look at this as an impossible undertaking, she took the bull by the horns. She has not only created a whole new wardrobe for herself, but is encouraging others to do the same without breaking the bank. More than anything, she is inspiring a generation of women entering a new decade to know that it's not over yet. We are all capable of embracing what we love and are naturally drawn to in this new season of life. 

I loved Amy Rosenthal's words. Rather than looking at the trends to decide what you want to do with your life, look more toward the things that catch your attention. As much as I'd like to up my fashion game, it's truly not what catches my eye. It's kind of ironic that I'm finally at an age where I have some extra money to spend on clothes, but I'm basically clueless about fashion. I plan to use my friend’s Facebook page, Curated by Sharon, as a guide. 

On the other hand, give me a library, a bookstore, an author talk, and I'm in seventh heaven. In paying attention to this, I'm now writing a novel, revising a children's book, have joined two writing groups, and am facilitating a book club. I also read to preschoolers once a month at the library. In addition, I'm still contributing to two blogs I created years ago. 

I want to encourage others to look closely at what captures their attention and challenge themselves to, as my friend says, “curate” a life in keeping with their interests. The Japanese have a philosophy called Ikigai which, in a nutshell, is “a reason to get out of bed in the morning.” They have learned that purpose is not something you outgrow. In fact, finding your purpose at each season of your life will help bring more meaning to your days.

As Annie Dillard reminds us in her book, The Writing Life. “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.” Her words should encourage us to be more intentional in what we choose to do. Our lives become more meaningful when we focus on creativity and positive daily habits. 

Sadly, Amy Rosenthal’s life was cut short at the age of fifty-one due to ovarian cancer. Remarkably, she wrote and published more than thirty books for both children and adults in just twelve years. If you'd like to learn more about her, check out her TED Talk in February of 2010 titled "7 Notes on Life." 

“If you want to change your life, change what you pay attention to.”

Austin Kleon Keep Going

Lessons From a Redbud Tree

 When we first bought our property several years ago, it was the middle of summer. It wasn't until the next fall that we learned we had a lone Redbud tree, the only one on our side of the county road. We felt quite special. 

Each year, as winter transitions into spring, we keep our eyes open for the first pink blossoms, knowing they will not be here for long. And every year, our tree never disappoints. For a few weeks, I find myself smiling each time I drive by. 

Today, I stopped to take a photo or two and was inspired to write about what this sweet little tree had to offer me in terms of life lessons. 

First- Be on the Lookout. Don’t be in such a hurry that you fail to notice what is right in front of you. Keep an eye out and an open mind as you explore the world around you. 

Second- Stop. I almost didn't, but I'm glad I took the time to get out of the car and snap a few pictures. We have a family memory of visiting Hot Springs, Arkansas, with my dad and stepmother. This was a place they had been many times, and Dad was perfectly content to drive around giving us the tour. After about 30 minutes, Chuck asked if we could stop and get out of the car. It wasn't too long after that that we were dipping our toes into one of the famous hot springs. Sometimes you just gotta stop. 

Third- Look at it from Different Angles. As I started snapping photos with my phone, I began taking them from different angles. Each one brought a new perspective. If I'd only looked at the tree from one direction, I would have missed out. This can be true in life as well. Taking the time to look at others’ beliefs and views can help us to refine our own.

Fourth- Get Up Closer. This is something I always recommend when taking a photo. It’s also something that works in life. Don’t be afraid to step in and take a closer look. The other day, while I was in line at HEB, I had a very interesting conversation with the man behind me who was buying chicken paws. If you don’t know what that is, it’s chicken feet. I told him they resembled my beloved rooster’s feet, and I didn’t think I could eat them. He assured me they were quite tasty and helped his aching back since they contained collagen. Who knew?

Fifth- Step Back. I stepped back and took another photo, which included the county road. Just like stepping back is good advice when coming upon a snake, sometimes it’s good to step away from something for a period of time. Anger can dissipate over time, ideas can incubate a little longer, and decisions can be worked through with time. Stepping back isn’t automatically a bad idea. Keep it in your repertoire.

Sixth- Be Aware of a Fleeting Moment. As I drove by the little tree, I thought about how quickly this moment would pass, and that it wouldn’t be long before tiny green leaves would replace those blossoms. I think about this a lot as my youngest grandson is approaching his next birthday. I’ve been accused of spoiling him by Chuck, but I explain that he will only be four for a short while. I’ve watched as his older brothers have grown and matured. We shouldn’t take anything for granted that it will always remain the same. 

Who knew that such an unassuming little tree could be packed with so much wisdom? As for me, I’ll continue to relish its short time here and look forward to seeing it again next year. Kind of like the hummingbirds that return each spring.