What I Notice

DSC_8222Camp Cheerio Last Day

I’m not sure the first day it started but hearts appear in many forms in my path. Mom and I were going through trunks of family photos this weekend and we found several handmade items from my youth. All of them had hearts drawn on them. I don’t go looking for hearts. That’s the best part. The serendipitous moment when my eyes come across what looks like a heart makes me pause, even for a millisecond, smile, and know in my heart that I am on the right path. I particularly like seeing hearts when I am out running. If nothing else, it’s a bit of a distraction from my the many miles of pounding pavement.

photo-29My rule is I cannot change anything. I take a picture of what I see as it is in that moment.

The heart at the top was revealed as we were loading the bus on our last day of Camp Cheerio with sixth graders. I found out about a close relative’s passing while on this school trip. Was it Rock’s message to me? Was it Cheerio saying that we’d had an incredible trip this year? Was it random? It does not matter. It made me smile. Another cool ripple effect is that friends and family from around the world share hearts with me. A simple gesture that says so much about how we are all connected. Yes, connected with technology, but more importantly, by a human connection. We recognize and validate what other people value, what other people are passionate about, and by kind gestures that warm other people’s hearts.

So as you go about your day, what do you notice? What makes you curious? What gives you pause?

DSC_8235Do you see it in the distance?

DSC_8236Are you curious?

DSC_8245Will you see beyond what you think you see?

DSC_8249To find the heart of the matter?

DSC_7919Like a four leaf clover, sometimes you find two!

 

I Love India!

DSC_1374 Bike Rickshaw Jaipur

If you read my ‘What I Notice’ post, you are aware of the delight I take in seeing hearts all around me. I do not go looking for them, they find me. It is a reminder to be present and be conscious of what is right in front of me at any given moment. There were many hearts and much love in India, so I will share a few with you.

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Cows are sacred in India. As the sun rises, the local cows go from house to house and are given the first bread of the day. This cow in Jaipur walked by our hotel each morning.

DSC_1129 Jain Temple

Jainism is an Indian religion that values nonviolence towards all living beings as well as spiritual interdependence and equality between all forms of life.  The three main principles of Jainism are Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Anekantvad (Non-Absolutism) and Aparigraha (Non-Possessiveness). People who follow the Jain religion have a strict diet where they will not eat anything that harms animals. Some will not eat root vegetables because small animals may be hurt while harvesting. They are also careful not to step on any insects. This heart was outside the Jain temple in Jaipur.

DSC_1745 Fence outside Flower & Veg market Jaipur

Do you see it in the barbed wire outside the flower and vegetable market in Jaipur?

DSC_2390 Helipad

DSC_1175 Jaipur Hand Railing

DSC_3243 camel knee heart last day

IMG_7797 Puja at Pushkar Lake

We participated in Puja at Pushkar Lake.Puja is a prayer ritual performed by Hindus to honor and worship deities or to spiritually celebrate an event. We put our rose petals in the holy water of the lake near the end of the ceremony.

DSC_2843 woman smoking Pushkar heart necklace

DSC_2842 woman in Pushkar heart necklace

Finally, I found this woman captivating. I wish I could have asked her the story behind her heart. There is so much to love about India!

What Do You Notice?

leafloveDonnelly2013

Photo by Patti Donnelly

Part of paying attention is being aware of things around you and being present. I cannot remember when I noticed my first heart, but now I cannot help but notice them. I see hearts everywhere. As you can imagine, I photograph them. Perhaps you notice something as well.

Challenge: Tune in to what you are aware of for an hour, a day, a week, or more. Write a post about your awareness. If you can capture a photo, that would be fabulous! Feel free to comment below to let me know what you notice or what you will be looking for. Let me know if you find some hearts!