Attentiveness is something that, historically, I haven’t been very good at. But it’s something that writing is teaching me and also something that this year has prioritized.
Many have attributed the quote below to Mary Oliver, but I’ve looked and looked but can’t find it in any of her books. Which is not going to prevent me from loving it or including it here : )
This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.
I want to keep working on attentiveness–one thing at a time, more being to balance out all my doing, more yoga, more breathing.
~
365 true things about me
why this daily practice
Nice. Now you’ve got ME curious about where that lovely quote comes from…. Let me know if you track it down!
I will, Anne!
A lovely quote to start the new year and I’ll take your word for it! Thanks!
Thanks, Katharine. Happy New Year to you!
I get this, Cynthia. I’m extraordinarily attentive to what I’m focusing on, and notice many things around me when I’m not involved or if something’s made obvious, BUT—I wouldn’t make the best witness at an accident. I would remember more about what happened than what color shirt someone was wearing.
Donna, I’m also attentive to what I’m focusing on–just not attentive in general. Hmmmm…