Forest for the Trees

"She can't see the forest for the trees!" Ever hear that? Well, we all see the world around us with different eyes. The way we look at the world is a very individual experience. Enjoy the way you see the world -- revel in it. We are complex creatures with an incredible composite of images and sensory reactions based on our life experience and values. The way we see the world is as unique as a fingerprint. Looking through a window you may notice the big sky while someone else may notice the shape of the mountain range, and another person will become entranced by the deer standing in the distance.

We are all on the lookout for beauty. "It is the nature of our attentive consciousness to be on the lookout for images with promise, even when we're not on the lookout for anything specific", says Tad Dunne, PhD. Seeing brings more to bear than the physical workings of our eyes. It brings together our history and experiences, what kind of morning we had, and the hope that we will find objects in our field of vision that appeal to our sense of wonder about the world. Seeing is an aesthetic experience, and beauty is hidden right before our eyes.

The next time you are spacing out at the passing views as you ride the bus to work, notice what your attention is drawn to. Is it the architecture? Is it the expressions on people's faces? Or is it the maple trees that seem to grow no matter how much sidewalk is surrounding them? Get a notebook and jot down what attracts you and pulls you in. Learn what resonates with you and bring more of it in your life. Return to those places that feed your singular vision. Your expanding soul will thank you.

- Storm Maxwell