David from the Adventures of Travel Penguin on his most recent Saturday Morning Post wrote about the difference between looking and seeing. What do you notice? Look for the unexpected in the everyday surroundings.
One week ago, I finished a Frozen Feet Challenge where the goal was to get out and walk every day for six weeks. The last day the plan was to do the usual neighborhood walk down the hill, turn left on the long, straight street, tour all the cul-de-sacs along the way, wind my way home in time to meet with the lady who was coming to the house to give me ideas about some new furniture pieces for the space we renovated. It was going to be a quick walk but then I looked down and saw it. That snow covered leaf - "snowliage" - a transient event, a limited-time masterpiece of nature.
My supposed-to-be-quick walk turned into an over-an-hour-taking-30-photos noticing walk. I just wanted to inject some novelty into the way I saw the neighborhood. It became a game - a single object scavenger hunt, played for the fun of noticing. (In case you were wondering, close call but I did arrive home by the skin of my teeth, just in time for my appointment).
That sounds like a perfect way to walk and see at the same time. I love all your observations.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great walk, a flaneur.
ReplyDeleteFlaneur...haven't heard that word in a long time. Thank you!
Delete