a red moleskine and the art of paying attention.

I’ve been meaning to post this since Christmas, but you know how it goes…

For one reason or another, I had a chance to pick out most of my Christmas presents. Most of the items were clothes – sweaters, shirts, a pair of jeans… oh and a SLAMMIN’ pair of sunglasses – but that’s for another day. I knew what I was getting. And while there was comfort in knowing that what I would receive, I realize that this also takes some of that enjoyable anticipation that Christmas is often about.

Yet on Christmas morning, I was blown a way to find a few surprises under the tree, surprises that made me feel spoiled and loved: a sweater I wanted but wouldn’t let myself get before Christmas because it wasn’t practical at all (deep turquoise and argyle!). A fun pack of gum in my stocking (Jenna hates that I chew gum, but she got me a pack anyway: that is love people!) And this:

A RED MOLESKINE.

Yeah, exactly. My parents gave it to me. This red notebook wasn’t my most expensive gift by any means, yet it was arguably my most meaningful. My mother bought it. She knew I liked (read obsess over) them. She thought the red almost looked Orange and knew how much ORANGE means to my work in the family ministry world.

This not only was a great gift for me; this was a lesson in paying attention. Maybe she read a blog post, maybe she saw that I ALWAYS have a Moleskine with me, maybe she talked with Jenna or remembered a passing conversation about notebooks. And sure, she’s my MOTHER, but I’ve heard hundreds of stories throughout the years about the stupid, meaningless gifts friends have received from their parents. She was paying attention to the details of my life.

How often do we go through our days and not pay attention to anyone around us? We have conversations with people about work stuff, operational nonsense, or daily schedules. We rarely if ever stop and observe and take notices of the life happening before our eyes. This could be a look that is signaling joy or pain. This could be a new hair cut or pair of shoes that is so obviously making a person feel out of this world. Or perhaps a pattern of always carrying a specific brand of Moleskine that he blogs about and takes some odd form of comfort in.

If we stopped and noticed, if we went further and commented, if we stored this in our brain and remembered when it came time for Christmas shopping… how much would our family, friends and co-workers feel loved?

In the midst of your busyness today or this week, take quick moments to observe the people around you, maybe even jot some down in your notebook. You never know what you may learn about people with whom you interact on a daily basis. And you just might end up making their day.