“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.“ — Mary Oliver
There is nothing I enjoy more than experiencing something new. It's always been this way. For better or worse I seek novelty as a way of jolting me out of a cozy comfort zone. This has manifested in different ways; in romance, in jobs, and most recently in travel. Now, I am always thinking about where I can go that will feel different, unexpected, inspiring.
But what if this is the wrong way to think about things?! What if this persistent quest for novelty is truly just a fear of being stuck? An article by Alastair Humphreys, a British adventurer, got me thinking more expansively.1 Quality doesn't need to stem from "new." It can be found through Mary Oliver's instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.
The timing of this provocation was uncanny.
On Island Time.
I am not a winter person. I grew up in the arid delta of Northern California and I have never once tried on a pair of skis. So when it comes to getting away during a frigid New York February, my mind wanders to the shores of humid tropical beaches. We were, in fact, en route to the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao when I clicked on Alastair's article.
Here I was, on the path to somewhere new, reading an article about finding astonishment in my own backyard. I was conflicted! Was I repeating patterns from the past, seeking novelty as a way to upend routine? Probably. And there's value in that. But maybe, as Humphreys and Oliver suggest, there's equal or more value in simply opening our eyes to the daily worlds that surround us.
Don't get me wrong. Even a few days letting sand run through your toes can be a restorative experience. I loved seeing new things, from a festive footbridge to a rugged coastal path to nowhere and, most surprisingly, a pig on the beach!
We had a blast! Any type of vacation can be a balm for the soul. But due to money, time, and mounting responsibilities of life, getting away isn't always possible. Travel requires tradeoffs—and the juice isn't always worth the squeeze.
Now that we're back I'm taking a cue from Humphrys about how to capture the novelty of travel in daily life, in my own backyard. But I'm using Mary Oliver's instructions as my guide. I am inspired by her eloquence and simplicity—and I think she offers a roadmap for us all.
Pay Attention.
In returning to the familiar, I find myself viewing the world through a lens altered by absence and reflection. The streets I routinely walk, the faces I pass, and even the skyline that frames daily existence—they all hold a renewed sense of wonder. It's as if, by stepping away, I've been given a new set of eyes; ones that try to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. This is the essence of living a quality life as Oliver prescribes: one grounded in rich attention that leads to astonishment and the stories that emerge from even the simplest of moments.
Be Astonished.
Man, this is hard. But I challenge you, just as I challenge myself: find an adventure in the mundanity of everyday life. I'm attempting to do that by looking closer at the nuances of my surroundings, from the laughter of close friends, to the shifting cloud formations in the sky, to the way snow grips to the branches of every tree. While it's easy to take the familiar for granted, I am trying to be astonished by the resilience of the human spirit, the unexpected kindness of strangers, and the beauty of nature that thrives even in the heart of a city.
Tell About It.
And here I am writing about it! It is important that we share our stories, our observations, our wonders—even the smallest ones. I personally think in words, but I wish that other mediums spoke to me more than language does. So, write, photograph, draw, paint, or share in conversation. In doing so, we enrich the quality of our own lives and connect with others on a level that transcends the superficial.
Elevating Quality
This marks my commitment to exploring a world that lies just beyond my doorstep with the same vigor I once reserved for distant lands. And I invite you to join me in this journey of rediscovery! Together, let's prove that novelty doesn't require a passport or a plane ticket. It just begs for us to open our eyes and our hearts to the wonders that surround us, waiting to be seen and celebrated.
Whatever it takes, let's find awe in our own backyards. How have you paid attention amidst the sea of distraction? How have you found astonishment in the daily minutiae? What stories have come from looking into unexplored corners? My hope is to inspire each other with tales of the ordinary things that surprisingly move us.
This for me is a part of what it means to be in the intentional pursuit of quality.
With warmth, respect, and gratitude.
Here’s that article: https://www.noemamag.com/a-single-small-map-is-enough-for-a-lifetime/
It is impossible not to leave a comment on this one...First because Curacao was the first foreign soil I landed on during my one-way ticket to America on a charter flight from Sao Paulo to Orlando that had 5 stops, 4 within Brazil and one last one in Curacao. We didn't leave the plane, but they opened its doors and the view of beautiful rocks and blue waves was imprinted in my mind. First flight ever, first trip outside the country and it was a one way ticket of an immigrant from Sao Paulo with no plans, not destination, no money and no English. But to your point, these days I embark on trips within my own home admiring the world with gratitude and curiosity.