The Ordinary Attempt this week is real easy -- just notice somebody. That's right, no need to talk to them or meet them or tell them anything. No, just notice.
Like, for example if you are driving down the street and you see a lady walking on the sidewalk and as you stop at the stoplight she is crossing in front of you and you decide to notice her. Maybe she looks kind of tired, "I wonder why she looks so tired, is there something that is keeping her up at night, some problem that is weighing her down?"
Or maybe you're at school, and there is someone that isn't in your normal group -- you don't even know his name, and you decide to notice him. Notice what he looks like, does he look sad or happy, "I wonder what his life is like, is today a good day for him?"
Just notice someone this week. Oh, I guess there is one more thing, but it is a small one -- write down or otherwise record your "noticing," and then share it here. That way others can participate in your noticing, and you can participate in theirs. Make sense?
I look forward to hearing your stories
24 comments:
I will be the first to post. Today 11-12-07, I was looking at a mom and child. The child was 8 years old sitting in the operatory. I felt that the mom was more fearful than the child. She had that nervous first time to the dentist look. The type of, "oh I hope that my daughter behaves." She kept on saying, " don't cry", which actually made her daughter cry even more. I could tell that she really loves her daughter. The kind of love that only a parent would understand.
Calvin
11-12-07
There was a service person coming to pick up a broken piece of equipment at my office today. He smelt of smoke, but was very pleasant. I was thinking, "how much does he smoke and for how long. What type of cigarettes does he smoke. Does he know how much damage he is doing to his lungs?" But I digress. He seemed very sincere. You know the type with the eyes that droop down, that semi innocent look. I had a feeling that he did not know what he was doing. But that is a side note.
Calvin
PS this is fun!
11-12-07
The Doctor.
I was looking out the window of my office today and I saw the doctor again. The doctor was wearing blue scrubs walking down the street going to the gym to work out. He is a happy sincere fellow with a pleasant demeanor. I remember having the chance to talk to him on more than one occasion. I asked him what type of surgeon he was. I discovered that he is a retired carviovascular surgeon that volunteers at UCLA medical school. I remember thinking that he is way to young to have retired. On previous conversations, I discovered that he is a southern baptist. While watching him walk to the gym, I thought, if I had a heart condition, I would want him to be my doctor. What is his name?
Calvin
I'm on a roll today.
My office is in front of a Starbuck drive thru. Every morning there is a long line of cars waiting to get their daily fix of coffee. As I was staring at the long line today, I saw one of the workers come out to throw away trash out at the dumpster. She looked to be in her teens which made me think, when did she start working today? Is she allowed to work the early morning shift? She looked a little tired and sad. She had that blank indifferent look about her, but that could be because she had to throw the trash away. That is not the most pleasant thing to do.
Calvin
There is this old man that is a security guard outside of my office. Everyday, he sits in his car with his red shirt, reading the newspaper. He looks like a grumpy man, but he does occasionally smile at me when I pass by. I wonder if he has a family. What does he do for fun. It makes me sad to see him alone in his car. Are some people grumpy? I do not know what he needs. In his quiet, wrinkled serenity, I feel he may need a friend.
Calvin
Today I was waiting in the car in the parking lot at Vons for my daughter and her friend. I noticed a bag boy pushing a cart part way full of groceries, really slow, and then noticed an old man behind him. The older gentleman was walking very slowly and gingerly. He had a dignified air about him, wearing a white hat, a jacket, and jeans. I thought about how I never have a bag boy help me out to the car, and this gentleman probably never used to, but he has to now. Then he drove away.
You're right, Calvin, it is fun!
Kelly
Today I notice a homeless lady with a oxygen canister. The portable green type with two wheels that people lug around because they need more oxygen in their system. She was also having a cigarette. I thought that was interesting. When I noticed her more, her face appeared to have many blemishes, the type where the daily onset of the sun's rays developed sundried wrinkles around the cheeks. She look complacent. I wondered what her life used to be like. Did she have a hard life? Is she happy? Did she have any family?
Calvin
Cellphones in my office do not work so well, so whenever I have to use my cellphone, I have to leave my office to make a call. While I was making a call today, I noticed the janitor in my plaza sweeping debris into one of those collecting devices we all probably had a chance to use once in our lives. He was very diligent in his work as he hurry along with his work. There was a bead of sweat transending his face as the sun beat on his head. He looked like he was content in his life. I would imagine him to be a family man, maybe two to three kids. The warmth from the look on his face made me smile.
Calvin
This person I realy did not notice today, but I remembered him while I was writing these "noticed events". I thought I should add him into this blog, just because he is a person that I still "noticed" after a long time. I noticed him maybe 3 months ago, but something made him stand out amoung all the people I "notice". He is a deaf Janitor. His dark skin, cool sunglasses, tan uniform and jolly demeanor, (almost like Santa Clause Jolly), made me realize what it is to appreciate what God has given you. The everyday person would probably pass him by as some indiscriminatory nobody, lost in the infusion of business and busyness, but I noticed. I wondered as I stared at him with his jovial smile, what makes him so happy?
Calvin
This afternoon, I treated my staff to mexican food at local restaurant. My staff had gone first and I came later. When I entered, I notice the cash register attendant. He was wearing a red shirt. He had a blank stare about him. There was a tv in front of the register displaying some sort of car chase show. I felt he was more interested in the car chase which made me turn my head around to watch the chase. To me, it was not very entertaining. He seems very pleasant and sincere (with the exception of the TV watching). I observed that he worked well with the other staff members which made me think, "he must know the rest of the workers for a long time." They got along well.
Calvin
Today I realized we are becoming more and more of a technology driven society.(Tech junkies as I would like to call it.)It's not like we don't already know that, (most everyone at my church has a cell phone). Earlier today, I was sitting in my car resting and taking in the sunlight, "noticing people".(It takes me a long time to warm up so when I am in the car, I don't roll down the windows for at least 20 minutes. Wendy hates this when we drive.) As I was noticing people, I noticed two ladies going for a leisurely walk. I think I have seen them on more than one occasion, but today, I noticed them. They both had cell phones. One of them was talking to someone, obviously enjoying the conversation. She had a big smile while the other lady was probably overhearing the conversation. She also had a large smile on her face. She had her phone tightly clenched to her hand as if in anticipation of a call. I made me think. Even 10 years ago, cell phones were not popular. Now everyone has one. Is their leisurely stroll more enjoyable with or without an electronic device? They both seemed excited about the walk. They acted like they knew each other for a long time. It made me think, it's good to have a good friend. My good friend/ best friend is my wife. I wonder if they have MP3 players?
Calvin
wow Calvin, your are noticing everyone.. :P
okay well i noticed some people on the bus, the were.//.... the y have like a blank stare and when ihave a blank stare it means im in deep thought, yes... you know i did more of "concerning" than noticing... can we jump ahead?!?!?! joking.....i will definitely "notice" more people in the next couple of days. :)
Kim
Today I had almost arrived at work at 6:00 am, and as I sat in the turn lane on Quince Street in Escondido, I noticed a man walking with a blanket. He had long, straggly hair and a beard. He was walking, his eyes and stride full of purpose, with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders, the end of the blanket coming down to his knees or so. I've walked with a blanket wrapped around me, but only in my nice, warm house. Where did he sleep last night, I wonder? And where is he going right now with such purpose?
Kelly
Hey guys, well i noticed a guy at my school. He was wearing a white shirt and grey sweat pants. He was sitting alone on a bench and staring at something. It seemed that he was thinking about something deeply. I wonder if he was worried about something or just not caring about anything.
-Daniel
Today in Kunming, China, I noticed a women pushing a food cart. I was in a taxi and she was crossing the street pushing a cart filled with steaming sweet potatoes. The traffic was very bad and she was having to dodge cars, motor scooters, and bicycles. She had this huge smile on her face while she crossed the street. She smiled so broadly it made me happy. Her job was fairly menial, and I am sure low paying, but she had a contentment and and joy in her face that went from her eyes to her mouth. I wondered what it was that made her so happy. I was happy for her that she was so happy.
Doug
There is a Starbucks across the little outdoor sitting section from Ben & Jerry's and there has been a guy working there that I've noticed for a while now. I have never heard him talk, unless he is talking to a customer, and his eyes always look sad.. it makes me wonder if he is happy with his life. His hair has always been messy; it reminds me of my friend, David.
--Karen
Today in China I "noticed" a little girl going through trash. It was weird, she was swinging her basket like any playful child would, yet a minute before she was elbow deep in a dumpster. She was passing by the traffic police who did not care. Outwardly she looked troubled. She also looked filthy. I wished I knew the language so that I could go up and talk to her. I thought, "how many others are there like her -- and who is there to help her." I also wondered what life in the future had in store for her. I prayed, "God, please rescue this child whom you love."
Doug
Sorry for the late post.
I have noticed more than one person this week, but one person that especially sticks in my mind is a boy named Edvin. He sits near me in chemistry and often jokes around me with... but not necessarily in the nicest ways. I wonder why he has to be so rude. Is he trying to act tough... like a "man". Recently, he seems pummeled with work. He had a worried expression on his face on Friday and kept complaining how he's doing badly in school. I think he's a softie at heart, but just doesn't want to show it. Maybe something has happened at home and it makes him put on a mask at school. Anyways, i hope that he has a wonderful break and is able to push all his worries aside for at least a week.
Cindy
It has been a while since I posted but I did notice someone today and I have time between patients. Today, I noticed this old lady walking in plaza. I have seen her before, but alway by herself. I do not know if she is homeless but she has that weathered look about her. She wore a beanie and a long brown trenchcoat which barely extended down to her ankles. Her weather boots made me think of her having a hard life. (This is all speculative). She did not smile and I felt her mind was in quiet contemplation. What was she thinking? What does she do for a living? Does she have a family? Whay do I see her so often in this shopping center? I may say hi to her one of these days.
Calvin
So today I went out to eat with my mommy. It was my first day outside, in public, this week. Anyways, we ate at Daphne's Greek Cafe and there, I saw a woman and her son (he was about 6 years old). Her son was whining on how he wants soda, while his mother said that he could only drink water. The mother seemed lost. She did not want to cause a scene with her son, yet did not want to give in to his demands. She seemed frustrated and tired. I wonder if she is always like this. If her son is always complaining. I hope she has a wonderful thanksgiving and that someday soon, her husband will treat her to a spa. I also hope that her son will be more behaved!
Sorry this is late.
I went to Starbucks today. There was a middle-aged man there. I'm not terribly good at judging ages, but he looked like he was in his mid 50s or so. He was wearing a Germany hat and a National Socialist Worker Party sweatshirt.
It made me mad. What sort of person would go to hang out at Starbucks openly supporting a political party responsible for the genocide of millions? He's about baby boomer age - his parents could have fought in World War Two against the Nazis. How could he have been raised, or what happened to him in the past to make him so racist?
In school, we are generally taught that Hitler, Nazis, and Totalitarianism are bad. What does he think about when he puts his sweatshirt on in the morning? Is it a big deal for him, or is it just another sweatshirt?
i went to Black Angus (should be eating traditional dinner instead of steak, huh)yesterday and i noticed lots of people standing around ..waiting to be seated. and i was wondering .. they most be hungry, but not as hungry as the people would can't buy or eat a nice meal.. This is fun, noticing people :) it kind of "open your eyes"...
Kim
I'm sitting here in a coffe shop in Portland, OR (The Urban Grind) getting caught up on computer stuff (free WiFi). There's a guy sitting at the counter in front of me where the internet access computers are. He's got earphones plugged into the system. It seems he's playing some web-based game. He's in his mid-20's, he got a mustache and goatee and dressed in athletic team wear.
I wonder about why he's here playing a game at 3:30 in the afternoon. Does he not have a computer system at home? Does he not want to go home right now? Of all the things to do in an internet coffee shop, to play an online game? How important is this gaming community to him that he'd spend his time doing this? What kind of friends does he have - are most of them gamers? Does he have a job; if so, what does he do? What is his home life like? Does he find real satisfaction in online gaming?
once a week i go to the library and i walk. As I was walking, there were these three little girls and their mother. They were taking down spiderwebs (not real ones). and one of the girls had part of the spiderweb on a stick. it was funny (i laughed inside) and i wondered to myself, " she's amused by this thing" she was swirling around and was not aware of her surroundings( because she almost hit me with the stick and her mother had to tell to stop). Kids like to amuse themselves and they dont worry (i did though but thats just me). As people grow older, they become preoccupied with little things that we dont have to be concerned with. This incident reminded me to be more like a kid. Worry less kids:)
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