There are the lucky few who zone out their windows and stare at brinks. The faraway intrigue of a forest— how it conspires— or the streaked lines of an ocean fringed by its horizon, or a city with more sky than scrapers, or even the informality of a backyard at dawn. But there are those— my friend and I— who can zone out, quite easily, to whatever’s right in front of us, no matter how unspectacular. A poorly painted wall. Its cracks. The ceiling fan’s chop. A woman on the C train pulling her ponytail through its tie, not once or twice, but six times. Six complete loops; her fingers closing into a claw each time. It’d been months since I’d been to a museum, but watching this woman mechanically tie her hair was softly enormous.
~ Durga Chew-Bose, from “Heart Museum” in Too Much and Not the Mood: Essays
Image: deryhana
We are on the same page.
No….we could co-author the book.
I’m confident that you and Durga Chew-Bose could deliver the co-authorship with your talent. I would cover the zoned out part.
I’m with you on the zoning out on whatever is nearby. Like my dog’s eyebrows going up and down while staring at me waiting for a treat.
Now that, Lisa, is a great moment of observation. I too have noticed that, and it felt a human to human moment.
Amazing, isn’t it, how the simplest of actions can transfix us?
Yes. So true. Your comment reminds me of:
Even boredom should be described with gusto. How many things are happening on a day when nothing happens?”
~ Wislawa Szymborska, translated by Clare Cavanagh
The map the veins make on my mother’s left hand. Same map since I was yound. I’ll find it in a million other hands.
Now that’s something.
. . . and new opportunities are always available for zoning out… just yesterday, I noticed my “pulse” on the medial aspect of my R knee and I just observed it for about ten minutes. A new chapter of self-discovery and relaxation?
Well now, that depends. If it was a soothing pause, I say Yes.
the power is in the simple things
Life is made up of such small joys.
It sure is.
Meditation of any kind is simply a practice of focus. Love all the suggestions, may have to focus on my dog a bit more ha! 😌😇
Yes. Yes it is. Not that I would know from practice but believe it to be true.
Well if you ever want to try, I’d be happy to teach you my friend ha 😛
You’d be so frustrated.
No, not at all!! I’d be excited to think you wanted to!! 😊
I’m stressing just thinking about it.
Ha! Go have a drink instead 🙏🏻
At 7am? OK! That should help.
Yes I forget the time zone sometimes ha 😬
I focus on all that is around me, allowing myself moments when I am caught almost hypnotized, by that which I see. But typically, it’s the things no one else would even notice.
That is a higher form of meditation. I’m sure.
I love all the comments found here and it got me to thinking… watching a bee bumble away between flowers is one amazing way to zone out…
Yes. And for me honey bees are hypnotizing. Thanks for sharing.
I totally get this.. zoning out on activity.. zoning now…
Good for you. I am a black belt in this area as well.