"Nobody sees a flower, really, it is so small.
We haven't time - and to see takes time
like to have a friend takes time."
—Georgia O'Keefe
Last month in Santa Fe, I saw this rock outside of one of the Georgia O'Keefe buildings. I thought it clever how the groundskeepers planted the purple and white crocuses near the base of the rock. Those little beacons of springtime made me detour across the street and notice the quote.
These pink creeping phlox are right outside my front door, so I see them every day. You'd think I'd know what they look like after several years, but it was only when I was taking photos that I noticed the yellow, white, and purple centers.
I like to think that I'm observant, but I'm not. I'm the person who ends up buying multiple jars of peanut butter because I can't see the one in the cupboard in front of me.
Maybe this why I like to read mysteries; I admire people who can scan a room and retain all those details at a later time. (Sherlock Holmes often pops up on the topic of observation such as in this article in Scientific American, "Don't Just See, Observe.")
A photo challenge group like I Heart Macro or Focus on Life (at The Studio Sublime) is a great way to train yourself to become more observant. If you write, you might enjoy Christina Katz's 21 Moments where she emails you prompts to focus on moments in your life.
In the 1990s, a popular book titled Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. While I agree with most of his advice about letting go of petty concerns, I disagree with the title. You need those tiny flowers ... the robin staring you boldly in the eye as you back your car out of the driveway .. the ice crystals forming pretty patterns on the kitchen window. Looking at the small stuff helps you see the big picture. If you're missing all these tiny delights in the world, you should sweat it. Get out there and look!
Quotation Source: ArtCyclopedia