Stop. Look. Listen.

Most of my days are filled with meetings and appointments. That’s just the way it is. What I don’t realize, perhaps, is how much I continue to process all of that in the moments in between. I wondered about that today as I sat in a coffee shop. The difference, today, is that I am making the first small step out of work into a three-month sabbatical. Normally, I have one day off every week where I can allow myself to be immersed in another environment. That’s a gift! But, I have to admit that I still allow my brain to be a bit preoccupied on those days. Today, however, it seems to be the immediate environment that "occupies" my brain more fully, and, likewise, my senses. Unconsciously, I take note of the way people are interacting with each other. I wonder how the old woman with the dog has become so familiar with the young barista. I really notice what people are wearing, and not just the outdoor gear which usually gets my attention. I breath in the chemistry of perfumes emanating from the table next to me. I gaze at the art on the walls. Of course, this is how I want it to be every day! I want to be a daily pilgrim who is fully immersed in the thick environment of sights, sounds, smells, stories, and all that “is” around me. For now, I’ll just allow it to happen. Later, I’ll learn how to bring more of that back into the world of meetings and appointments.