Look up, look out, look in

Life’s splendor forever lies in wait about each one of us in all its fullness, but veiled from view, deep down, invisible, far off. It is there, though, not hostile, not reluctant, not deaf. If you summon it by the right word, by its right name, it will come.

Merci FRANZ KAFKA

You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait. Do not even wait, be quite still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.

~FRANZ KAFKA

Am doing miserably on this goal in my normal work environment, but a project has taken me to a beautiful corner of the Caribbean this week. On waking in the morning and between meetings I get to look out to neighbouring islands in the near and middle distance and to see the changing colours of the sea. Project X still lurks in the background like a virus waiting to strike, but with a temporary shift in focus to project B and a new, if temporary, work environment that has me close to the sea once more, I am refreshed.

Today, I will try to do better.

I created this goal as a reminder to stop and look around me more and to allow myself to be inspired by what I see.

Look up – One of Tristan’s posts of a few weeks ago reminded me that I hadn’t seen the stars in longer than it is decent to confess to.

Look out – Figuratively and literally. I’ve been spending long hours on the computer (with the exception of most of the Easter Weekend, thank goodness,) and have the horrid habit of not stopping every so often to look out into the distance to rest my eyes. I feel them growing more strained and know that no project/job is really work compromising my health.

Look in – Of late it has been too easy for me to get caught with the things that keep life “hectic” and to focus on them, rather than let some of the beauty from outside help me exhale more throughout the day.