First, you have to notice.
We all walk or cycle or drive by things every day. It all registers in our brain somewhere, unconsciously, at some level or another. After all, we don’t just bump into stuff all the time. We can interact with the world.
But how much do we actually see? I suspect we’re all guilty of not really noticing an awful lot of what’s around us. Perhaps it’s a functional, practical necessity to some extent. But what don’t we register? What do we miss? What do we miss out on?
I say ‘miss out on’ because we can’t enjoy, appreciate or understand something if we don’t even notice it’s there. Let’s assume we’re not fools, and let’s face up to the fact that we all know we could all die tomorrow. Anything could happen to any one of us. We know all that but even so, we often fail to live as if every day is precious.
I fear that could easily prove a regret that could weigh anyone down.
With the3rd3rd, one of Caversham’s sister sites, you’ll find a variety of (hopefully helpful) thoughts, responses and/or approaches to this broad issue of making the most out of life.
As for me? What am I doing to see more myself – actually doing and not just talking about? I’m trying to move away from taking photos which are more-or-less just ‘snaps’. For 2024 my goal is to illustrate the Caversham site, the RG4 photo site and, indeed, any other part of Unstated that includes photos, with more imagination – an imagination that’s informed by taking the time and making the effort to pause and actually see.
