I can be so oblivious at times.
I was just at Jean’s blog reading her post about finding something we seem to have lost. She was writing about how she had gone to a coffee stop to do some writing, when she realized she had forgetten her materials. She even forgot her electronic gadgets. So she sat there. And in doing so, realized how we have often forgotten to stop and just ‘be’ … and to be aware of our surroundings.
And we do indeed miss these opportunities. I miss them. A lot.
Case in point ~ Apparently there was an earthquake in my part of the world a few days ago. Janurary 30th to be exact. It occurred at just after 5pm.
Granted, it was a smaller earthquake, registering only at 3.7 magnitude. Nevertheless, if I am not mistaken, at about that time I must have been sitting at the counter on the computer…or about to order a pizza for dinner.
Did I notice ANYTHING?
Nope.
I just found out about it on an artical I was just reading. Some people felt it as far away as south of Portland. I was nearer to it.
While this may not be exatly the awareness of surroundings I had in mind, one would THINK I’d have noticed some bit of shaking.
Ahh … I really must be more mindful of my surroundings. 
A semi wrecked right outside of my house once. I was oblivious until sirens started arrived!
I have a friend who couldn’t figure out why her dinner guests were late until one of them finally arrived and told her she had to walk 2 blocks to get there. It turns out a house was ablaze a couple doors down and the street was blocked off with fire trucks!
*chuckling* you aren’t alone. We all get caught up with what is in our head and miss what is under our noses. Breathe . . .
OH! And I’m so glad to have inspired you! Thanks for the mention!
I felt one a few years ago, hmm two? It was not a nice feeling. It was stronger, think over a 6 and not very close. Didn’t your new phone tell you there was one?
Oh…I am falling behindddddddd lol.
Our new phones are supposed to tell us when things like that happens? (I have to ask my daughter if I need to turn a setting on then!) I did get an Amber Alert notice nod nods. (Nooo…no ‘you’ Amber…but the one where there is a potential child kidnapping….that was sort of disconcerting!)
I was just thinking today about how I always try to time things down to the last minute, wanting to squeeze in as much ‘stuff’ as possible, always taking a book or my phone to ‘keep me busy,’ but never just sitting and being. I should probably have more quiet time in my life.
I’ve never stopped to pay attention to anything!! Lol Until the day we bought our country property and I woke up hearing all that nature had to offer. Now I look around and absorb! Go figure?? Hugs to you and hope you had a great weekend! ……Paula xxxxx
Ironic how much we enjoy those moments, yet how rarely we seek them.
You were simply absorbed in your surroundings or what you were doing me thinks
We have them very rarely over here and make such a big thing about it when they happen! Glad it wasn’t a big one and that you are safe that’s the main thing. 
x
I know exactly what you mean, Katie. It has happened to me many times. I always expect the big one, living in San Francisco and yet with the small ones, I don’t notice a thing and life goes on. I do try to just ‘be’ in the moment but sometimes I do get carried away with a millions tasks at a time and all that my girls have going. Happy that you are okay, though. Did you watch Downton last night and what did you think? I am ready for Bates to come home, aren’t you?
I had a friend ring me once when we were living on the cane farm. She was screaming through the phone ‘which direction is the fire coming from?’. What fire??? I looked out the windows to see all our cane fields were on fire. Oops – I was too busy writing to notice….
I enjoy people watching! It’s almost like juxtaposing myself… losing yourself in others while enjoying what others are doing~ relaxing and pleasant =)
In a world that’s filled 24×7 with sights and sounds and energy, it’s easy to build up deflector screens. It’s an extension of how we all stare at the numbers when squished in an elevator together; a way of finding privacy and self in a world that is, for lack of a better term, functionally insane.
Some alone quite time is one of the most valuable gifts you can give yourself. Eat a meal alone at least once a week (and alone means no books, no gadgets, just you and your food). Sit and watch clouds for 20 minutes. Or watch leaves blow in the wind.
Peace comes when you find the still of your heart:
http://logosconcarne.com/2012/10/21/still-of-the-heart/