Stay Curious

 

I've been a fan of Rob Walker and his book and newsletter The Art of Noticing for a few years. Such incredible, fun and interesting food for thoughts comes out of Rob's brain. 

Check out my previous posts:

• 4 Must-Read Enewsletters for Your Inbox

• Fire Hydrants & Snacks in the Stairwell: How I'm Paying Closer Attention

One of Rob's recent newsletters, Committing Acts of Curiosity, really stuck with me. He shared the joyful video Stand Here for Dance Party by Improv Everywhere. It's a beautiful and fun example why being curious is a trait that should be practiced, cultivated and encouraged.

On our recent trip to Denver, CO, we ate at My Brother's Bar, an unexpected gem. Great food, good vibe. On the sidewalk outside the door, there was a decal encouraging passersby to scan the QR code to find out "what happened at My Brother's Bar." I was treated to a short audio clip sharing fun history about the bar. My family thought I was crazy for scanning something on the sidewalk. :) 

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing ...  Keep It Real.

4 Must-Read Enewsletters for Your Inbox

It's been a different few weeks, hasn't it? I'm still processing all the changes that have taken place so quickly. 

I move from feeling OK to feeling overwhelmed, anxious, scared or angry. Sometimes all those feelings happen in a span of a few minutes. And, I'm tired of talking about COVID-19, and thinking about it, hearing about it and writing about it (because of work). 

So, I'm offering a few diversions in the form of four must-read enewsletters. I always look forward to seeing them in my Inbox. They make me laugh, think and learn. I read every single issue of each one. Give them a try!  

The Girlfriend. This weekly newsletter by AARP  (yes, THAT AARP) is a fun little gem. If you are a woman of a certain age (40+), you need this girlfriend in your life. It's like the writers read my mind and know exactly what questions I have or what I'm interested in. 

The Art of Noticing. I wrote about Rob Walker's book here. The newsletter arrives when inspiration strikes Rob, or when his time allows. He describes is as "news and tips and suggestions and inspiration for building your attention muscles, and that's exactly what it does. It's an extension of his book, The Art of Noticing: 131 Ways to Spark Creativity, Find Inspiration, and Discover Joy in the Everyday.

Girls Night In - This sweet, calming newsletter is geared toward Millennials, but anyone who's idea of a good time is cozying up with a good book, or a few close friends and creative ways to relax will fall in love with it. Alisha Ramos found the Girls Night In Club in 2017. With our current situation, staying in has become a necessity instead of a lovely luxury. I admire Alisha for how well she is navigating her readers through this strange twist of fate. 

Ellevest Magazine - This newsletter (they call it a magazine) from Ellevest, a female-owned investing firm, focuses on women and their money. Their advice is timely and easy to read and understand. I'm learning so much about finance. Full disclosure: Earlier this year, I moved my investments to Ellevest. They didn't ask me to promote their newsletter or services. I am just so impressed with this firm and how they communicate, I had to share. 

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing ... Keep It Real (and safe!).

Fire Hydrants & Snacks in the Stairwell: How I'm Paying Closer Attention

Image Source: Goodreads.com

I don't remember how I came across The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker, but I knew immediately I needed to add it to my reading list. The title and  description spoke to a quality I used to possess, one I liked and now miss. I used to be an astute observer of my surroundings, noticing the tiniest discrepancies, mannerisms and changes in people and places. I was a noticer. 

Over the years, that's changed. While I make every effort to avoid pinning the popular "Busy Badge of Honor" to my cardigan, life has a way of whipping me into a frenzy sometimes, and I live my days in a blur. I hate it. 

"The Art of Noticing" reminded me there's some really cool things taking place in the spaces right in front of, behind, above and below me, if I'll only take a couple of minutes to notice them. For the first time in a while, I felt my brain digging into a big plate of some intelligent food for thought. 

Infrathin, Intraordinary and Halfalogues
The book is divided into five sections: Looking, Sensing, Going Places, Connecting With Others and Being Alone (my favorite section), each with their own ideas for practicing the art of noticing. There's something for bosses, introverts, extroverts, adults and kids. 

My three favorite concepts from the book are: infrathin, intraordinary and halfalogues. I'll let you do the research. After reading this book, I find myself looking and listening for infrathins everywhere I go. Two of my favorite examples, at least I think they are examples, are: 

1) The tapping sound a keyboard key makes right when you touch it
2) The subtle whooshing sound paper makes when you turn the page of a book. 

Pick One Thing to Notice
One of the book's challenges involves focusing your attention on one object. For Rob, it was the location of security cameras in a city he was familiar with. He wanted to find a way to see the city differently. 

I picked two objects: 
1) Fire hydrants. I chose to focus my attention on fire hydrants after observing that the only one on my street had been buried under dirt and rubble by the construction crews that are widening the street. Now, I notice the placement and color of fire hydrants everywhere I go. 

2) Dropped food in a stairwell. There's a particular employee stairwell at work that on any given day has bits of dropped and forgotten food. I've noticed  bacon, smashed popcorn and purple grapes, to name just a few foods. I'm obsessed to the point I've started taking pics. 

If you're interested in learning more, check out the book. It's a pretty quick read. Rob also has an e-newsletter he sends every so often. In fact, he sends so rarely that I actually get it excited when it pops up in my Inbox. Subscribe to his email here.

What little bits of life have you noticed lately? Nothing's too small, too big, too weird or too dull. Share in the comments, please!

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing  ... Keep It Real.