This lovely postcard arrived a few weeks ago from the Baltic Sea ... 
... it came from a good friend from former East Germany and it reminded me of the first time I visited that part of the world.
In Birgit's hallway there was a noticeboard full of postcards - each one had come from one their friends' first visit out of the Eastern Bloc. The idea moved me greatly .... they had each dreamed for most of their lives about where they would go to first if they ever got a chance to leave the East. One went to Greece, another to America, another to Iceland etc etc.
It struck me that we took an awful lot for granted.
When she and her family visited us here in Ireland, the tide was full as we drove back from the airport to home .... several boats were moored in the bay. Next morning, we drove along the same stretch of road and the tide was out. They were in shock - where had the water gone? and why were the boats facing the other way? I had never passed remarks on either thing ... but now it's the first thing I see. And which way the boats are facing .... of course they get turned around as the tide moves....
What do you see differently that you didn't notice before?
Ah, noticing. That's something I need to do more. Sometimes I'll focus in and see patterns and closeups I wouldn't have seen if I hadn't taken time to look. I love this example of seeing and the tides. So moving, so true.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to come by Karen ... I find I need constant reminders to notice ... the camera is helping though.
Deleteyes..the noticing of the everyday...
ReplyDeleteevery time i walk the dogs around our little patch here, i purposely make sure to note how the trees are changing, which birds are doing what..how life is moving in it's ever-changing rhythms. it's so easy to let it all fade into the background...but i hope to never take any of it for granted..
xo
Have you anything that you do that reminds you to pay attention Mel?
DeletePretty post card and thoughtful reflection . . . I love how seeing thru a visitor's eyes has opened your own.
ReplyDeleteWhen I remember, I try be be more intentional about noticing small acts of kindness that are extended to me. I also want to pay-them-forward more, too. :)
Ah yes, paying forward .... that's important too... and not being too tired to hear what people are saying. I'm finding that this group, and all the blogs that I've read are helping me pay a lot more attention and making me look at the people around me in a different way.
DeleteLove this. Perspective can be such a powerful thing ~ especially when shared. ♡
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! It's amazing what we miss when it's something we "see" every day. A fresh set of eyes can remind us of the little things.
ReplyDeleteA lovely postcard and a lovely post. I'm so glad to be one of your followers. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete