As of late, I have been lunching under the watchful gaze of a magnificent pair of eyes. All morning I secretly look forward to a time when I can finally sit across from my delicious bowl of salad, pretending to catch up on Google News, but in truth marinate under the weight of an admirer’s undivided attention.
It’s a great time of the day. She, sitting on her swing, in that euphoric state before afternoon nap-time. Me, stretching my mental net, trying to catch one of the hundred to-do’s jumping around in my head - my daily search for a perfect occupant of my time, that will be at once fun, productive, relaxing, meaningful, and a fantastic use of my only hour or two to myself.
The gaze beckons my attention again and again, and as I look up I am rewarded with a sweet smile or a joyful squeal. My reward for putting down the heavy net, for becoming present.
This weekend, I saw the amazing Karen Maezen Miller, a Zen priest and the author of Momma Zen, talk at the Mothers' Symposium at Stanford. “Attention is the most concrete expression of Love”, she said.
My bowl runneth over!
It’s a great time of the day. She, sitting on her swing, in that euphoric state before afternoon nap-time. Me, stretching my mental net, trying to catch one of the hundred to-do’s jumping around in my head - my daily search for a perfect occupant of my time, that will be at once fun, productive, relaxing, meaningful, and a fantastic use of my only hour or two to myself.
The gaze beckons my attention again and again, and as I look up I am rewarded with a sweet smile or a joyful squeal. My reward for putting down the heavy net, for becoming present.
This weekend, I saw the amazing Karen Maezen Miller, a Zen priest and the author of Momma Zen, talk at the Mothers' Symposium at Stanford. “Attention is the most concrete expression of Love”, she said.
My bowl runneth over!
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ReplyDeleteAttention makes admiration an open secret! So glad you were paying attention.
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