When you look but don't SEE

I have a confession to make.  I have been distracted.  Not distracted in my work, but distracted in my life.  The only moments I have felt focused are in my treatment room, with my eyes closed, working with a patient.  I have seen best with my eyes closed.  

I don't know how many times lately I have found myself looking at people but not seeing them.  What a huge space there is between looking at a person and seeing a person.  I got a haircut a couple of weeks ago and when I left,  I thought, "I'm pretty sure I didn't really even look at her face or notice what she was wearing."  And I was there for 3 hours.  I may have looked in her direction but I did not look her in the eye and see her while we were talking.  (I have since apologized!)

I have done the same thing with my husband, my kids, my sister.  People I love, people who are friends, people who know me best.  A distracted brain, a distracted life, is no way to live.  I have always prided myself in being a good listener, in paying attention, in SEEING people. And that's not what I've been doing.

This is my acknowledgement, my apology, and my promise to do better.  Being distracted is easy.  So easy.  Facebook, phones, appointments, schedules, deadlines, it's so easy to get wrapped up in all the stuff.  Being present can be so very hard.  

Be present in the moment.

Look but also SEE.