What Are You Looking At, What Do You See?
I saw a quote engraved on a bench while on a walk yesterday that went something along the lines of, “I am neither then nor there, I am here.”
I debated on taking a picture of it (unfortunately didn’t) and wish I had to give credit where it is due.
Nonetheless, I thought it was beautifully said and vaguely intertwined with something that’s been sitting in my mind lately.
I truly believe that there is a vast contrast between looking vs. seeing, just as much as there is between thinking and experiencing.
When we look at something, anything, (ex: an inanimate object, another person, or even a mere moment) we analyze, reflect, associate, and even have extended thoughts/emotions towards whatever it may be. In a vague sense, we think about it.
Though, when we see something, we understand it by allowing ourselves to be authentically open to letting go of premature thought/belief, and oftentimes, find a deeper sentiment of acceptance and appreciation; we experience it.
I feel as if a majority of people simply look at the world and all that inhabits in lieu of opening themselves to seeing it.
We pass by various individuals on the street each day and we are prompted to construct judgements about them as we analyze their every detail that is deemed as salient.
Each moment we are given, we ruin it by looking at it. As we begin to analyze, reflect, and associate what is present, we lose ourselves in thought comparing what we want, should be, or could have been to what simply is.
We remove ourselves from what is given to live in back and forth thought of then and there.
Seeing someone walk by on the street is noticing and recognizing what is salient and accepting it openly; simply acknowledging the existence of difference and appreciating it.
Seeing in a moment is a eased sense of focus on what is given presently and appreciating it for what it is in lieu of attempting to change it or hold tightly onto it.
When we see, we ground ourselves here and are able to truly experience something in the most authentic way possible, in which, we will feel lighter and create a far more lasting experience than it would be otherwise.
