On noticing the rich, weird (and yes, delightful) details of life

I’m working on this very project at one of my favorite nearby resorts, and a man just sat down in the lounge area not far from me. Unexpectedly, I noticed a smirk coming to my face overhearing him chatting on the phone. His distinct voice brought an amusing thought to my mind – isn’t it wild how many distinct voices exist? It makes life a heck of a lot more colorful than if we all spoke in the same monotone drone. 

That spiraled me into another related thought – isn’t it wild what sensory details you notice when you’re fully present? Typically, I’d just tune out the people around me as I focus on my work. That focus can be a good thing. But so can noticing the world around me – the people, the environment, the sounds, the colors… all the things. I actually noticed the quality of this dude’s voice and derived some delight from that experience. What a weird, yet rich detail to pick up in life today. 

My point here is – give yourself permission to notice the details sometimes. Not just the ones that scream to you as a negative disturbance (e.g. when some dude’s voice is an obnoxious disruption to your workflow). And not just the ones that shout at you in their over-the-top goodness (e.g. the peak moment of crossing the metaphorical finish line in whatever domain). Notice the in-between little micro-joys too.

It may not always be automatic or seem efficient to do so. Still, noticing is part of this human experience. Sure, we can plod through our existence in a humdrum way, disconnected from our embodiment and the sensory aspects of life. But it’s a pretty disconnected and depressing way to float through this world. Instead, let’s look for more ways to be present and choose delight today.

I can’t wait to hear – what weird, rich details will you notice today?