Looking Down Before Stepping Out
What I’ve learned from snails about paying attention
Sometimes a small change can have an outsized effect on our daily lives.
A few weeks ago I had that unpleasant experience that’s all-too-familiar for some of us. I ran outside to throw something in the garbage or leave for some meeting, but only took a few steps before being literally stopped in my tracks.
Step.
Step.
*crunch*
As I looked down, I discovered a cracked snail shell underneath my foot.
In my hurry, I had failed to pay attention to the creature that was right in front of me. Carelessly, I’d inflicted damage and done harm.
But paying attention to what’s around me is about more than just avoiding doing harm. Because since that day I’ve been looking down whenever I step out the door. I have been paying attention. And I’ve been enjoying what I’ve found.
Multiple times a week since that day, when I’ve gone outside in the cool of the evening or a brisk morning, or just after the rain lets up, I’ve found other snails. Sometimes it’s just one or two, but many times it’s been a group of snails (which I’ve learned can be called either a “walk of snails” or a “rout of snails”).
One morning I arrived to open up the church building on a Sunday morning and was greeted by dozens of snails!
Every encounter with these snails (and each successfully avoided step on them because I’m aware of them) has brought me joy, the experience of simply noticing and enjoying this small aspect of nature lifting my spirits.
I could have had that initial experience and done nothing to change afterwards. Perhaps I would have still felt bad, but not gone out of my way to do anything different.
But not only would I most likely be having the same less-than-pleasant experience again before too long, I would also almost certainly be missing out on the occasional moments of joy I have experienced from noticing and appreciating the other snails in my path.
It doesn’t take a big change to have a large impact. Allowing ourselves room for margin and attention may be the difference between missing out on and experiencing joy in unexpected places.
Kid Corner
Funnies
Reading, Listening, or Watching
The Hobbit — after rewatching The Hobbit trilogy, I decided I’d listen to the audiobook of the original during my commute. It’s so refreshing to experience Tolkien’s actual story and not the mess that became the major motion picture trilogy.
Tress of the Emerald Sea — Brandon Sanderson' is one of my favorite authors and this fantasy adventure inspired in part by The Princess Bride is no exception.
The Acolyte — I really wanted to enjoy Disney’s latest Star Wars offering. Sadly, though I can appreciate in a dispatched, analytical sort of way what the series is attempting to do (and sometimes achieving), i just haven’t enjoyed it that much.
Cars — our boys love cars and trucks, so this Pixar movie has been on repeat lately (and I assume it will be for the foreseeable future)
That’s all for this Wondering While Wandering! Thank you as always for reading and caring.
For discussion: what are you enjoying, reading, watching, learning, etc?