I was at the grocery store the other day – on a schedule of course – and of course there was a line up at the cashier. When it was finally my turn to pay, I handed my money to the cashier and took my change never looking up. I was focused on getting out of the store and on to the next ‘very important thing.’
With a startle, I realized the cashier was waiting for me, almost pulling me, to raise my head and look at her. When I did, she looked me directly in the eyes and smiled.
That very short interaction changed my entire day. She paid attention to me. It was a small thing, looking at me and smiling, but it was huge. I relaxed, stopped rushing and my whole day shifted.
That short encounter brought an awareness and a vow to be more conscious in my interactions.
Paying attention to someone is one of the greatest gifts we can give to them. When we do that, we focus all our senses on that person. We look, we actively listen, we are aware of the other on all levels. We do this easily with a new born child; and we do it easily with a romantic partner, especially in the beginning, before life takes over.
When we pay attention to someone, we are telling them they matter, they are worthy of our attention. We remind them of the importance of human relations, even if the contact is as short as the line in the grocery store. We feel better when someone pays attention to us. It lifts our spirits, maybe it inspires us to pay attention to someone else.
Valentine’s Day, in fact this whole month, is focused on relationships. It gives us the opportunity to look at how we ‘are’ with others. It gives a day to practice how we could be all the time. So enjoy the day. Be aware of how you feel when someone pays attention to you, and share the feeling. Pass it on. Tag, you’re it!
