The art of paying attention.
What changes when we stop looking for the next big thing and start noticing what is already here? A conversation about the quiet practice of paying attention.
The conversation
What changes when we stop looking for the next big thing and start noticing what is already here? A conversation about the quiet practice of paying attention.
Some of the most useful conversations leave you with something small: a question, a practice, or a new way of seeing the familiar. This episode is an invitation to slow down and make a little space for that.
A few things to take with you
- The ordinary as a starting point.
- What we miss when we rush.
- A small practice for tomorrow.
Try this after listening
Take ten minutes away from your usual routine. Notice one thing you would normally pass by, and write a sentence about it.
Transcript
Alex: Hey, welcome to Iris. I’m Alex. I took the long way home yesterday, and noticed a little garden behind a wall. I’ve walked past that wall for years. Never saw the garden. It’s funny how much is there when you’re not in a hurry to get somewhere else.
Alex: That’s where this conversation with Elliot Reed begins. He’s a writer who pays attention to the things most of us walk straight past. And the more we talked, the more I realized that noticing isn’t really a special talent. It’s making a bit of room. Putting your phone away. Letting someone finish their thought before you reach for your own.
Alex: So, here’s a small thing to try. On your next walk, take a different turn. Look for something you haven’t seen before, even if it’s just the color of a door. You don’t have to turn it into a lesson. Just notice it. That’s enough for today. Thanks for keeping me company. I’ll see you next time.
Mentioned in this episode
Voices in this episode.
Elliot Reed
Writer & observer
Elliot writes about ordinary places and the small things that make them worth noticing. His work explores walking, attention, and the stories hiding in the everyday.
Alex Morgan
Writer, maker & host of Iris
Alex is a writer and maker with a soft spot for questions that take the scenic route. Iris grew out of a wish to spend more time listening to people who see the familiar a little differently.
