Observe

My wife Kathy and I spent the Thanksgiving holiday with family in Nashville, Tennessee.  Kathy grew up just south in the historic town of Franklin, Tennessee.  Together, we have visited most of the Civil War battlefields in the area as well as many of the historic homes and museums, yet we never visited The Hermitage, the home of our seventh President, Andrew Jackson.   I had been visiting the area for over 30 years and I never took the time to see this unique property.  I was bound and determined to do so on this trip.   We arranged to take with us our 15-year-old middle granddaughter Shelby, who lives in Nashville.  What a treat the day was going to be.   

I should say I am the history geek and my wife knows that I must read every sign, see every film and gaze on every relic in the historic places we visit.  I did not disappoint her this time as well.   In the museum at the start of the tour I read everything.  Yes, I’m that guy in your family.  Helping to enjoy our time together was seeing everything through the eyes of Shelby. 

We next toured the grounds and waited our turn to tour the historic home which we were told has ninety-five percent of its original furnishing and looks much the way it did when Jackson lived in the home.  The grandeur and practicality of the home as well as the plantation was amazing to experience.  The tomb of Jackson and his beloved wife Rachel are in the formal gardens.  The slave cabin exhibits tell the story of those who lived and toiled to make this place work which were riveting reminders of why we need to continue to learn from their story and strife.  

An additional benefit of visiting on this day was noticing people from around the world.  How did I know this?  Listening to the various languages being spoken and the style of their dress, confirmed this observation on a balmy autumn day.  Shelby seemed to be enjoying her time with us yet she had been to The Hermitage before so my wife thought she was just not as interested in being there as we were. Yet, we were soon to find out otherwise. 

Walking around the grounds my wife posed the following question to me, “When did Jackson die?”  Shelby piped up with the answer,” June 8, 1845,” she replied.  My wife and I both laughed and realized not only was Shelby paying attention, she was taking in and remembering what she had experienced.  I learned an interesting lesson that day.  How one observes the world may not be the same as you. They may not appear to be paying attention, yet they really are processing what they experience.  It just may be differently from you.

Moral: We all observe and learn differently. We just have to be OK with it.

The Flower Song

Boulder THINK

Boulder Creek runs through Eben G Fine Park in the west end of the City of Boulder.  The park is about a block from my office.  I often find myself drawn there for a little mental pause and to eat the lunch which my wife lovely spoils me with each day.  The walk to the park clears my head and allows me time to think, reflect and observe people.  Other people are attracted here to it’s wide, green lawn for playing Frisbee or to watch the kids during summer doing various camp activities.  There are people looking for a cool place to relax and float down the creek in their inner-tubes, often bumping into the rocks that give the creek its name.   The concrete path that meanders along the creek invites runners, walkers and people in conversation to a pleasant place to stroll along the scenic banks.  The park is a wonderful place to disconnect and think.

Finding the time to think is becoming rare. The sound of the water against the rocks of the creek breaks the clutter of my mind and my routine like the rocks break the water from its path.  The rocks divide the liquid over and around in different directions forcing it to move differently than its natural flow.  Like the water in the creek I look for ways to do things different so I can think differently.  I often return from this break, refreshed, refocused and ready for the rest of my day. 

   

I am not sure about you but I have become tethered to my mobile devices waiting for the next bit of news or the next world crisis.  I communicate more via 140 characters or writing a note in a text box than speaking to people directly.  I do these activities sometimes to excess as well.  Yet, I find myself wanting to disconnect, read, listen, talk, discuss, create and to think.  Most people are not as fortunate to work in a beautiful place as I do and do not have the luxury or ability to walk to a nearby park to think.  Yet, everyone can schedule sometime in their morning, noon or in the evening for a few minutes each day to think.  The key to creating something new or producing something new is to focusing one’s energy on positive things and positive activities which allows for positive outcomes.  Think and then think differently.  Some guy name Steve did this and his fruit company changed the world.