Love the reminder to observe. I can't help myself. I must say that line you quoted is best stated by the incredible Benedict Cumberbatch, my favorite Sherlock of all the TV/Movie versions.
Observing....Hmmmmmmmm. I think this is a mindful tool I don't use enough.
I saw a, hmm, Reel the other day, which challenged viewers to look to their eyes and their focus. It described a genetic phenomenon of a supposed small portion of the population, wherein some people have eyes that focus only on the object they are looking directly at, whereas for others, everything in their vision is in focus - unblurred. I do not know the veracity of the claims, however, in my vision, items only blur when I really stick my nose into them.
Your post made me wonder as to Sherlock's (or Arthur Conan Doyle's) eyes, and how they saw. Of my own:
The sun will break four hours hence, and I should soon abed, but night-birds song and the distant sea make for a glorious harmony. I sit here listening to hunting gecko's cry, next to the afternoon's ice cream stick. My battery fades, so I must type fast, throw the one, plug the other in. No mosquitoes tonight, as the tide runs low, but their memory keeps me alert. So fingers to key keep nails from my skin, as I yawn and hear the neighbours' aircon kicking in. The possums are wrestles, up in the roof, and something is scratching in the garden. The concerns of the day still prey on my mind as I twist out of a numb set position. Bed doth await, but I dread to awake, so my phone, in its wisdom, must die. There's a plane passing high and a curlew responds. Don't ask me what exists at midday.
Three things: 1) the frigid cold air on my face walking into work 2) the kind smiles of the high school science teachers I met with during a professional development session today 3) the joke of the day that flashed across the high school cafeteria digital board: what do the police say to the cartoonist when he's arrested? (You've been given a laugh sentence...) I didn't say it was a good joke!
Hey thanks for the shout Amy and I love this post. My only job (writer or not) is to notice the world around me and be a witness to the people around me.
It’s a good reminder - I so often categorize and judge a thing I notice, but I like the idea of simply noticing. Thanks for your post that catalyzed my own!
Noticing is a super-power. Lovely post.
Love the reminder to observe. I can't help myself. I must say that line you quoted is best stated by the incredible Benedict Cumberbatch, my favorite Sherlock of all the TV/Movie versions.
Observing....Hmmmmmmmm. I think this is a mindful tool I don't use enough.
Now I’m going to have to go back and see Benedict say it!!!
I saw a, hmm, Reel the other day, which challenged viewers to look to their eyes and their focus. It described a genetic phenomenon of a supposed small portion of the population, wherein some people have eyes that focus only on the object they are looking directly at, whereas for others, everything in their vision is in focus - unblurred. I do not know the veracity of the claims, however, in my vision, items only blur when I really stick my nose into them.
Your post made me wonder as to Sherlock's (or Arthur Conan Doyle's) eyes, and how they saw. Of my own:
The sun will break four hours hence, and I should soon abed, but night-birds song and the distant sea make for a glorious harmony. I sit here listening to hunting gecko's cry, next to the afternoon's ice cream stick. My battery fades, so I must type fast, throw the one, plug the other in. No mosquitoes tonight, as the tide runs low, but their memory keeps me alert. So fingers to key keep nails from my skin, as I yawn and hear the neighbours' aircon kicking in. The possums are wrestles, up in the roof, and something is scratching in the garden. The concerns of the day still prey on my mind as I twist out of a numb set position. Bed doth await, but I dread to awake, so my phone, in its wisdom, must die. There's a plane passing high and a curlew responds. Don't ask me what exists at midday.
That's a lot of noticing!
Three things: 1) the frigid cold air on my face walking into work 2) the kind smiles of the high school science teachers I met with during a professional development session today 3) the joke of the day that flashed across the high school cafeteria digital board: what do the police say to the cartoonist when he's arrested? (You've been given a laugh sentence...) I didn't say it was a good joke!
hahaha well thanks for that!!! I’m going to go say that to my 17-year-old now :) Good noticing!
Oooh I love this so much, and now I may just have to go watch the Benedict Cumberbatch series...
Let's see. Three things.
1-The sound of kitty paws scraping in the kitty litter
2-My peace lily is wilting. I think I may have overwatered it?
3-The vines I have hanging on the wall behind me blowing a bit when the heater turns on.
So fun!! I want to turn this into a habit.
Good noticing! And me too…
Thank you for this — in the wake of Trump’s very, very bad first day — this made me smile.
I will definitely be using the Sherlock Holmes quotes with my writing students.
Thanks for making me smile — and yes — I plan to notice more and more things!
Thank you, Karen! And me too :)
Hey thanks for the shout Amy and I love this post. My only job (writer or not) is to notice the world around me and be a witness to the people around me.
It’s a good reminder - I so often categorize and judge a thing I notice, but I like the idea of simply noticing. Thanks for your post that catalyzed my own!
Thank you, Jo! Maybe I will plant some herbs this summer... :)