That glance you ignored could've changed everything

A quick note about the value of being observant...

Today, from my cozy corner booth in a local coffee shop, I watched as a young man glanced at the pretty woman who walked past him on her way to the restroom. But she passed the young man before he looked up; she didn’t see his glance or observe the intrigue in his eyes. This made me consider how many moments I’ve missed, due simply to circumstance (as in this scenario) or, more painfully, due to my intentional ignorance. I thought about the many interpersonal cues I’ve ignored (and continue to ignore) simply because I find it inconvenient to register these little nuances in human behavior. They often require a response, and sometimes it’s much easier to just… not respond.

Today’s cozy workspace… the perfect spot for an early afternoon session of reflection, especially on this lovely “daylight savings” Sunday 🙂

I hastily pulled my notebook out of my bag and scribbled down the following:

How many thoughts, emotions, and inclinations go unnoticed; and how many of these, if more closely observed by the right people (or person), could change the course of history? Here “history” may be that grand timeline of which we are so fond; or, less obviously, perhaps it may refer to the past, present, and future of one person (the not-so-glamorous timeline of the earthly life of a single human soul). And, naturally, we can’t forget the piercing butterfly effect, which necessitates that there is no change in the individual’s timeline which occurs in a vacuum, detached from the grand scheme of history. Thus, if we were generally more observant of things, we could change human life (or lives, I should say) in two critical ways:

1. We’d transform the timeline of an individual life

2. We’d transform (perhaps exponentially) the entire historical timeline

Essentially, today’s brief post is just my fancy way of saying this:

Be more observant. Notice the glances, the breathing patterns, the smiles and frowns that you’d ordinarily miss - or see and shrug off. Respond differently because you pay attention differently. Your history - and mine - may be different because of it.